Sunday, January 29, 2012

Newsfeed - January 29

Paul Auster Refuses Turkey Visit over Jailed Scribes!

American author Paul Auster said he refused to visit Turkey because of the number of journalists and writers that have been jailed in the country. Read more on GIT - North America.


Turkey Takes 148th Place in the 2011-2012 Global Press Freedom Evaluation


According to the Press Freedom Index 2011-2012 released by the Reporters Without Borders, Turkey was placed 148th, following Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Malawi. Read more on GIT - North America.


11 Years in Prison for 3 Eggs?


A law student, Yigit Ergun, who was "caught" with three eggs at president Gul's visit to Istanbul University is under prosecution with a sentence of 11 years in prison. Read more on the process, the student collectives' response and another related case on GIT - North America.


The Footsteps of Fascism


Burak Bekdil writes about the Turkish mood over the French Senate’s vote that made denial of the Armenian genocide illegal in relation to human rights violations -including life sentences for authors, and 11 years of sentence for the student caught with eggs. Read more on GIT - North America.


Signature campaign for hate speech

A campaign has been launched to request a legislation in in the new Turkish constitution against “hate crimes.” Read more on GIT - North America.


The Curtailment of Freedom of Expression by the Turkish State: The Case of Caricaturist Bahadir Baruter


Antropologist Jenny White writes about Omer Bahadir Baruter's conviction as a reflection of the bizarre practice and "over-sensitivity" to curb the freedom of expression in Turkey. Read more on GIT - North America.


6 Year Sentence Because of a Letter


Hanging a banner that read "We want free education," and receiving letters from the prison were cited as evidence in the court against political association. Read more on the report by Ayca Soylemez in Bianet on GIT - North America.