Turkish judiciary

Öcalan's new cell becomes an obstacle for the Kurdish initiative

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A nearly 12 square meter room for Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned PKK leader, caused uproar among PKK members. Ministry of Justice yesterday released photos of Öcalan’s cell which is nearly 1 m2 smaller than the previous one. More photos here.

Pro-PKK Kurds used Öcalan’s cell as a pretext to celebrate the anniversary of PKK’s establishment. There were riots in many cities and I provide some photos below. My first reaction is that this is a case of habitus. PKK members does not know any other way to continue. After 3 decades of fighting, Kurdish question has come to a new and positive level and with major parts’ contribution, we might witness historical moments. However, PKK reactions mostly serve Turkish nationalists…I do not claim AKP does all good but I am not sure if pro-PKK Kurds help the process at all.. but let me not forget to add. This is a friend’s idea. There are nearly no PKK leaders who can really handle the process. Most of reasonable PKK leaders like Musa Anter were assassinated by either hawkish Kurds or the State apparatus and now we have a different sort of leadership problem…

AFP: Turkey defends prison conditions of Kurdish leader

Uproar over Öcalan?s prison conditions

by FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK

In a move likely to block the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government?s Kurdish initiative, which aims to expand the rights of the country?s Kurds, sympathizers of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) are taking to the streets and resorting to violence in the cities.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4526/28578166.jpg

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Here Comes the Pain- Part II. Former military chiefs are questioned Today

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Oh God, even an ordinary sergeant feels and acts like a God in the barracks and now I wonder what these Chiefs feel. Falling from heaven? While Western accomplices like Gareth Jenkins (a great critique of Mr. Jenkins’ report –Between Fact And Fantasy:- that questions the Ergenekon Trial can be found here in Turkish) works hard to spread pro-Ergenekon viewpoints abroad, judiciary process continues and today we reach another top point:

Oramiral Özden ÖrnekOrgeneral Aytaç YalmanOrgeneral İbrahim Fırtına

Questioning of former military chiefs in Ergenekon trial begins

Hurriyet Daily News
The accusation said no hard evidence has been found to directly link the top commanders to the Ergenekon gang, but the coup journals show that the

Turkey braces for commander’s testimony in plot probe (AlertNet)

Source: Reuters By Thomas Grove ISTANBUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Three retired military commanders were expected to testify this weekend at an in-camera investigation into a plot to overthrow Turkey’s Islamist-inspired

there is too much pain for the Ergenekon gang. Arbitrarily I named part I here:) A huge roundup follows:

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NYT article relies on pro-Ergenekon lobby?

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A new article in NYT by Mr. Bilefsky quotes extensively from sources critical of the Ergenekon trial. I have once noted the evidence question last year and I still believe it is a valid concern. However, there is a concentrated attempt to slow down or disorient the process and these people are certainly not doing out of innocent democratic aims. As the article underlines the issue is too complicated but it is not a fiction. It is real despite all problems, anybody in town knows that the deep state operated in this country and Ergenekon trial is here to reveal some of the facts. But of course it cannot be an easy process to do that and by putting “clouds” on the Trial itself, some Western Media production helpsthe anti-trial lobby…

Subversion Trial Puts Cloud Over Turkey

from NYT > Turkey by By DAN BILEFSKY
Prosecutors allege that an underground organization has committed dozens of terrorist acts and sought to topple Turkey?s Islamic-inspired government.

Plot colonel put behind bars over action plan
Today’s Zaman
Dozens of Ergenekon members, including businessmen, members of the military and journalists, are currently incarcerated while standing trial.

Cuntaya ?hayır? çıktı, imamlar sürgün edildi
A small scale campaign continues: Adding “Brave” to the name of Bingöl city. People of Bingöl was brave enough to reject the military enforced constitution referendum after the 1980 coup d’etat. In fact, it was only city…

 

 

Members of Genç Siviller (Young Civilians) and the Ankara-based Bingöl Culture and Solidarity Association (BİNDAV) protested the anti-democratic 1982 Constitution, a byproduct of the 1980 coup, in front of the welcome sign to the city of Bingöl on Saturday…

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"The people of the republic, the army of the republic!

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Honestly speaking, I have a date this evening which is more exciting than any news. But as a self-discipline man, I neglect my blog and and readers and here will offer you another roundup on Turkish politics, with a particular interest in anniversary celebrations and Ergenekon case… There are also some links to good articles… Talk to you soon:)
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chief of ...

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug (L) are accompanied by military officials as they attend an official ceremony to mark the 86th anniversary of Republic Day at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of secular Turkey, in Ankara October 29, 2009. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

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Human chain for Ceylan, this evening in Taksim

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I have an evening lecture, I will probably not be there but let me announce the event for Ceylan. Another shame for the Turkish authorities. In the mean time, not much progress in the Hrant Dink assassination trial, censorship issues and a note on infamous Diyarbakır Prison. Erkan’s Field Diary offers a roundup on the darker side.

An asymmetrical war against the military

by ADEM YAVUZ ARSLAN
We have heard this so many times in the past, but we heard it once more this past Friday at the weekly press conference held at the military?s General Staff headquarters: ?There is an asymmetrical war being waged against the military.?

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"Speech for the Council of Europe Cross-Border Internet, Consultation meeting (Strasbourg)

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Speech for the Council of Europe Cross-Border Internet, Consultation meeting (Strasbourg)

This speech will be delivered in Strasbourg on Thursday, 08 October, 2009

Intervention Speech for the Cross-Border Internet: Consultation meeting organised by the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 8-9 October 2009
By Dr. Yaman Akdeniz, Associate Professor in Law, Faculty of Law, Istanbul Bilgi University.

It is a great honour to be here today in Strasbourg at the Council of Europe, and to be very close to the European Court of Human Rights. For me, as an academic working in the field of human rights and new media, in particular with regards to legal and policy issues surrounding the Internet since the mid 1990s, the role of both the Council, and the European Court has been crucially important.

and more from cyberspace:

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Turkey and human rights – Some progress and many setbacks

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I am still optimistic, still, really. But there are not all good news here.
In the mean time: a first case. a policeman arrested because of assault to a young citizen:

Police Officer Arrested After Attacking Student

Efkan Bolaç, lawyer of the severely beaten student Güney Tuna, stated that 8 police officers were involved in the assault on her client: “Tuna was not …
PM Erdoğan’s speech at his party convention was discursively promising:

This Star daily headline underlines the fact that PM Erdoğan named political outsiders of Republican history from a wide range of political opposition.


[CROSS READER] Democratic initiative leaves its mark on AK Party congress

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) held its third ordinary party congress on Saturday at the ASKİ Sports Hall in Ankara.

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Web censorship non-stop in Turkey

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Erkan would like to thank the “system” whose elements include legal structures and its executioners, current government, complaining parents and other assholic conservative citizens, parts of music industry and pro-establishments zealots, who is behind the continuous and increasing web censorship in Turkey.

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The ban itself sued, Petition campaign and web censorship in Turkish humor magazine covers.

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More than 6 thousand sites are banned in Turkey...
More than 6 thousand sites are banned in Turkey...

Academic asks Turkish court to overturn Myspace and Last.fm blocking decisions

Yaman Akdeniz, an Associate Professor of law at the Faculty of Law, Istanbul Bilgi University today (29 September, 2009) made an appeal to the Beyoğlu Criminal Court of Peace to overturn the blocking decision involving both myspace.com and Last.fm from Turkey. The blocking decision was enforced by the Turkish ISPs since Friday, 18 September, 2009 by the order of the Beyoğlu Chief Public Prosecutor?s Office (order no 2009/45 dated 26.06.2009).

Petition against Internet Censorship in Turkey here.

Cover page of Penguen magazine’s latest issue satirizes the ban.
and these are from the older covers that were related to previous bans…

Live and notes from "Netdaş" [Netizen] meeting at Istanbul Bilgi U.

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Netdaş is a Friendfeed group that is organized by Turkish netizens to challenge web censhorship issues in Turkey. This has been the most qualitative blogger/web  producer meeting. Still, it could be more productive. Anyways, here is a few notes:

Presentation by Özgür Uçkan can be found here.

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Güler Zere (and more judicial news)

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Güler Zere
Güler Zere

Last evening, in Istiklal Street, Taksim, I happened to witness around a thousand demonstrators protesting Güler Zere’s situation. She is a detainee in Adana prison ill with fourth stage cancer and if she is not released she may die.  A web report claims that Ministry of Justice has just started the release process; let’s hope for the best.

“Stop Sexual Harassment in Police and Gendarmerie”

Bianet – Emine Özcan – ?Aug 31, 2009?

Güler Zere is a detainee in Adana prison ill with fourth stage cancer. According to a medical report, Zere is in danger of dying and the hospital’s prison

Unfortunately, not good news follow:

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Meet Sevil Atasoy: "An Agent Professor" according to some…

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Sevil Atasoy

Sevil Atasoy

Ergenekon trial yet uncovers another dirty relationship in “Turkish deep state.”  Ergun Babahan named her as an “agent professor” who seemed to have worked for military intelligence and filed scandalous reports when she was the director of Forensic Science Institute.

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When struggle for rights turns into violation of rights

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Bülent Forta, the president of MÜYAP, defends himself here (in Turkish). He has become the main target of protesters against the MySpace and LastFm ban. He says they did not intend the ban itself but protect musicians’ rights. His was a “struggle for rights”. In fact, Mr. Forta is known to be decades-long leftist activist. … Read more

"Real-spam" campaign against MÜ-YAP

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A Friendfeed group organizes to send empty CDs to MÜYAP [Turkish Phonographic Industry Society] who sued MySpace and LastFm and who is behind the current ban.
Picture 1

Source: friendfeed.com
Yarın sabahtan itibaren boş CD kapaklarının içine yerleştirip MÜ-YAP’ın posta adresine yağdıracağımız CD kapağı görselleri hazır! MÜ-YAP’ı “real spam”e boğalım! Mü-Yap Bağlantılı Hak Sahibi Fonogram Yapımcıları Meslek Birliği Kuloğlu Mah. …

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"Banners are from the Dinosaur Age"

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Kristian Hammerstad’s gallery of haunted and monster art has me shivering with delight. Kristian Hammerstad (via Street Anatomy) in Monstrous art This reminds me website banners (!)


Assoc. Prof. Yaman Akdeniz (Law School, Istanbul Bilgi University) is interviewed at BiaNet. He talks about the ban; which articles might be used to ban in Turkish legal system and he declares his hopelessness. I realized there that a Turkish Video Sharing site Akilli.Tv is also banned.

Access to Myspace and Last.fm blocked from Turkey

As of Friday, 18 September, 2009 access to popular social networks Myspace and Last.fm are blocked from Turkey. The blocking order is issued by the Beyoğlu Chief Public Prosecutor?s Office (order not 2009/45 dated 26.06.2009). It is suspected that both sites are blocked because of ?intellectual property infringements? following a request by Mu-yap, the Turkish Phonographic Industry Society. [Blog entry by Dr. Yaman Akdeniz – I will update this story as more information is made available]

turkeybans: MUYAP banned more than 1700 websites in Turkey for copyright reasons.

turkeybans: http://engelliweb.com/ here’s a list of blocked websites in turkey. 4195 and still counting.

turkeybans: newspapers talks about this meaningless ban. all they think about is turkey’s global image but freedom of speech.

Subversive sites?

by Fréderike Geerdink

Network site myspace.com has been closed down in Turkey. It?s not totally clear yet why, but it?s said it has to do with copyright laws being infringed. On myspace, a lot of music is shared among members, and it?s of course feasible that in the process copyrights are not always respected.

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