To sign the inaugural declaration of GIT, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr -- to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
The dreams of Turkish judiciary
The judiciary in Turkey lost more of its diminishing credibility yesterday as the verdict in the Hrant Dink's murder case ruled out any "deep state" involvement despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Read more on GIT - North America.
Opposition leader in Turkey under investigation
If you are critical of the judiciary in Turkey, you might face an investigation -- even if you are the leader of the second largest political party in the country. Read more on GIT - North America.
Journalists on trial after 13 months of detention
After 13 months of pre-trial detention, six journalists will see a courtroom on Friday, January 20. Read their story via GIT - North America.
Publishers Association asks for amendments in Anti-Terror Law
"Amendments of anti-terror law should quickly pass into law," stated the Publishers Association of Turkey. Read more via GIT - North America.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Dreams of the Turkish Judiciary
"The [terrorist] organization was apparently Hayal [dream in Turkish]" is the headline of today's Radikal, referring to the verdict in the court case about the murder of Hrant Dink.
The court decided that Yasin Hayal, who was handed down an aggravated life sentence on charges of instigation to premeditated murder, was simply acting on his own when he "provoked" Ogün Samast to murder Hrant Dink.
Erhan Tuncel, a police and gendarmerie informant, whom Yasin Hayal accused of planning the assassination, was acquitted of all charges related to the murder of Hrant Dink. Tuncel claimed that he had informed the police of Hayal's plans many times.
During the trial process, Dink family's lawyers brought to the attention of the court several pieces of evidence pointing out the connections of the suspects with wider circles reaching into the state apparatus. Yet the court proved to be very reluctant to follow them up.
While the Turkish judiciary is trying generals for attempted coups, it seems to be dreaming about minors assassinating Armenian-Turkish journalists on the instigation of individuals acting on their own despite mounting evidence suggesting "deep state" connections. Such double standards continue to undermine public trust in the judiciary in Turkey.
To read a report on the final session of the trial, visit Bianet; For a short analysis by Amnesty International, visit their webpage; for some of the new evidence the Dink family lawyers brought to the attention of the court recently, see an earlier report on Bianet.
The court decided that Yasin Hayal, who was handed down an aggravated life sentence on charges of instigation to premeditated murder, was simply acting on his own when he "provoked" Ogün Samast to murder Hrant Dink.
Erhan Tuncel, a police and gendarmerie informant, whom Yasin Hayal accused of planning the assassination, was acquitted of all charges related to the murder of Hrant Dink. Tuncel claimed that he had informed the police of Hayal's plans many times.
During the trial process, Dink family's lawyers brought to the attention of the court several pieces of evidence pointing out the connections of the suspects with wider circles reaching into the state apparatus. Yet the court proved to be very reluctant to follow them up.
While the Turkish judiciary is trying generals for attempted coups, it seems to be dreaming about minors assassinating Armenian-Turkish journalists on the instigation of individuals acting on their own despite mounting evidence suggesting "deep state" connections. Such double standards continue to undermine public trust in the judiciary in Turkey.
To read a report on the final session of the trial, visit Bianet; For a short analysis by Amnesty International, visit their webpage; for some of the new evidence the Dink family lawyers brought to the attention of the court recently, see an earlier report on Bianet.
Opposition leader in Turkey under investigation
"U can't touch this!" Yes, that is what the Turkish judiciary says about critiques directed against itself.
The Silivri Public Chief Prosecution launched an investigation about Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Chairman of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). The probe is based on an alleged "attempt to influence a fair trial" because of Kılıçdaroğlu's statements about the judges of the Ergenekon trial. Ergenekon trial is also where journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener, along with many others who are being tried. This means, any criticism brought about this case, even by the opposition leader will also be criminalized.
Such silencing approaches to the discussions about the case would not be a first, considering how it was declared back in March 2011 that even having a copy of Ahmet Şık's book on the Gülen movement's connections with the law enforcement would be considered as Ergenekon membership and thus the person in question would also be prosecuted for helping "terrorists."
Since then, the book has been published; and the prosecutor has been replaced, but apparently not the mentality.
To read more on Kılıçdaroğlu's case, visit Bianet.
The Silivri Public Chief Prosecution launched an investigation about Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Chairman of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). The probe is based on an alleged "attempt to influence a fair trial" because of Kılıçdaroğlu's statements about the judges of the Ergenekon trial. Ergenekon trial is also where journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener, along with many others who are being tried. This means, any criticism brought about this case, even by the opposition leader will also be criminalized.
Such silencing approaches to the discussions about the case would not be a first, considering how it was declared back in March 2011 that even having a copy of Ahmet Şık's book on the Gülen movement's connections with the law enforcement would be considered as Ergenekon membership and thus the person in question would also be prosecuted for helping "terrorists."
Since then, the book has been published; and the prosecutor has been replaced, but apparently not the mentality.
To read more on Kılıçdaroğlu's case, visit Bianet.
Publishers Association asks for Amendments in Anti-Terror Law
TURKEY PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
"Amendments of Anti-Terror Law Should quickly Pass into Law"
16 January, 2012
The Turkey Publishers Association called on the parliament to urgently pass the amendments of Articles 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terror Law as proposed by CHP MP Oktay [Ekşi] into law in order to remove obstacles before press freedom.Read the full text at:
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/135462-amendments-of-anti-terror-law-should-quickly-pass-into-law
Journalists on trial after 13 months of detention
Ayça Söylemez, Bianet; Monday, January 16, 2012.
Six employees of the Yürüyüş magazine will appear at court for the first time on 20 January after 13 months of detention. Entrance to their offices was forced in a raid in December 2010 when also helicopter had been used.
Six employees of the Yürüyüş magazine will appear at court for the first time on 20 January after 13 months of detention. Entrance to their offices was forced in a raid in December 2010 when also helicopter had been used.
The six journalists were taken into police custody on 24 December 2010 in the course of a raid on the office of the magazine. The office door was broken and about 2,000 books were seized during the crackdown.
The raid started at 4.00 am in the morning and was supported by helicopters. The office was demolished, interior doors and furniture was broken.
The compensation file regarding the material damage was dismissed reasoning that there was "no grounds for legal action". According to the decision signed by Şişli (Istanbul) Public Prosecutor Sait Kunt, the office's door was broken "in order to prevent the destruction of material evidence".
To read the whole report, visit Bianet.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Third List of Signatures for the Inaugural Declaration of GIT
Our daily postings end today with the third list of signatures added to the inaugural declaration of GIT. If you are interested to add your signature to this list, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr; to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
We will continue our posts every Wednesday and Sunday, starting from this Wednesday, January 18!
January 15, 2012 : Third list of signatures for the GIT’s Inaugural Declaration (November 21, 2011) Academic Liberty and Freedom of Research in Turkey
A new list will be published February 15, 2012
Dr. Ali Akay (Professor, Mimar Sinan University Istanbul Turkey, Sociology), Rojda Alaç (Ph.D Candidate, EHESS France), Mert Arslanalp (Ph.D. Candidate, Northwestern University USA, Political Science), Dr. Șükrü Aslan (Lecturer, Mimar Sinan University Turkey, Sociology), Dr. Mehmet Asutay (Reader, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University UK, Political Economy), Ebru Avcı (Music Teacher, Social Science Institute of Istanbul Technical University Turkey), Dr. Ergun Aydınoğlu (Yildiz University Turkey), Dr. Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche (Associate Professor, University of Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3 France, Public Law), Dr. Kimberly W. Benston (Professor, Haverford College USA, English), Dr. Olivier Bouquet (Associate Professor, University of Nice France, History), Dr. Hans Branscheidt (EUTCC / MESOP, Frankfurt Germany), Dr. Davide Caddedu (Associate Professor, Milano University Italy, Political Philosophy), Dr. Lieven De Cauter (Professor, Mediaschool Rits Brussels Belgium, Architecture and Urban Planning), Dr. Lorella Cedroni (Professor, La Sapienza University Italy, Political Theory), Dr. Maurizio Cermel (Professor, Ca' Foscari University Venice Italy, Law), Dr. Christophe Charle (Professor, University of Paris-I-Panthéon-Sorbonne, France, History), Murat Dağlı (Ph.D Candidate, University of California Berkeley USA), Dr. Ayşe Dayi (Assistant Professor, Towson University USA & Founder and Collective Board Member, Center for Transnational Women's Issues), Dr. Yonça Demir (Assistant Professor, Istanbul Bilgi University Turkey, Business Administration), Sedef Ecer (Writer, Paris France), Berk Esen (Ph. D Candidate, Cornell University USA, Turkish and Latin American Politics), Bahar Sahin Firat (Ph. D Candidate, Bosphorus University Turkey, Political Science), Dr. Bulent Gokay (Professor, Keele University UK, International Relations), Nisa Goksel (Ph.D. Candidate, Northwestern University, Sociology), Azat Zana Gundoğan (Ph. D Candidate, Binghamton University New York USA, Sociology), Tuncay Gurhan (Ph. D candidate, University of Vienna Austria, Philosophy), Dr. Corry Guttstadt (Independent Scholar, Germany, History & Turcology), Dr. Dietrich Jung (Professor, Center for Contemporary Middle East Studies, Denmark), Dr. Nükhet Kardam (Professor, Middlebury College USA, International Policy), Erdal Kaynal (Ph. D candidate, EHESS France, History), Dr. Janroj Keles (Lecturer and Research Fellow, Working Lives Research Institute, London Metropolitan University UK, Social Sciences), Ebru Kılıç (Literary Translator, İstanbul Turkey), Dr. Nurten Kılıç -Schubel (Assistant Professor, Kenyon College, Gambier Ohio USA, History), Deniz Kilincoğlu (Ph. D Candidate, Princeton University USA, Near Eastern Studies), Dr. Şükrü Ekin Kocabaş (Assistant Professor, Koç University Turkey, Electrical and Electronics Engineering), Dr. Levent Koker (Professor, Atılım University Ankara Turkey, Law), Dr. Timur Kuran (Professor, Duke University USA, Economics), Dr. Daniella Kuzmanovic (Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen Denmark, Turkish Studies), Dr. Tito Marci (Professor, La Sapienza University Italy, Sociology of Law), Dr. Murat Cem Menğuc (Assistant Professor, Seton Hall University, History), Hakeem Naim (Ph.D Candidate, University of California Davis USA, History), Özden Ocak (PhD Candidate, George Mason University USA, Cultural Studies), Dr. Baskın Oran (Professor emeritus, Ankara University Turkey, Political science), Imge Oranlı (Ph.D Candidate, DePaul University USA, Philosophy), Ulaş Özdemir (Ph.D. Candidate, Yildiz Teknik University Turkey, Music), Sinan Goknur (Ph.D Candidate, University of Minnesota USA, Computer Engineering and Collaborative Arts), Dr. Günay Göksu Özdoğan (Professor, Marmara University, Political Science), Dr. Hélène Piralian-Simonyan (Psychanalyst and Writer, Founding Member of AIRCRIGE France), Dr. Glenn E. Robinson (Department of Defense Analysis Naval Postgraduate School Monterey California USA), Ünver Rüstem (Ph. D Candidate, Harvard University USA, Art History), Esra Sarıoğlu (Ph. D Candidate, State University of New York USA, Sociology), Y. Ozan Say (Ph.D. Candidate Indiana University USA and Visiting Lecturer, Bridgewater State University USA, Anthropology), Dr. Ali Kerem Saysel (Associate Professor, Bosphorus University Turkey, Environmental Sciences), Dr. Dana Sofi (Researcher, Stockholm University Sweden, Sociology), Dr. Vernon James Schubel (Professor, Kenyon College, Gambier Ohio USA, Religious Studies), Dr. Ali C. Tasiran (Professor, Birkbeck College London UK, Economics), Dr. Yves Ternon (Historian of Armenian Genocide and Ottoman Empire), Dr. Meltem Toksöz (Bosphorus University Turkey, History), Yiğit Unan (B.S. Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Poland), Dr. Bariş Ünlü (Faculty member, Ankara University Turkey, Political Science), Dr. Beatriz Urrea (Academic, Arizona USA), Dr. Füsün Üstel (Professor, Galatasaray University Turkey, Political Science), Dr. Nicole F. Watts (Associate Professor, San Francisco State University USA, Political Science), Dr. Mesut Yegen (Istanbul Sehir University Turkey, Sociology), Dr. Sara Nur Yıldız (Orient-Institut Istanbul Turkey), Seçil Yılmaz (Ph.D Student, The Graduate Center CUNY USA, History), Dr. Ipek Yosmaoğlu (Assistant Professor, Northwestern University USA, History), Dr. Welat Zeydanlıoğlu (Founder and coordinator of the Kurdish Studies Network).
January 1, 2012 : Second list of signatures for the GIT’s Inaugural Declaration (November 21, 2011) Academic Liberty and Freedom of Research in Turkey
Dr. Ayca Alemdaroglu (Post-doctoral Scholar, Stanford University USA, Anthropology), Ahmet Alis (PhD Candidate at Boðaziçi University Turkey, Guest PhD fellow at the University of Copenhagen Denmark, Modern Turkish History), Dr. Janine Altounian (researcher, translator, founding member of AIRCRIGE France, Psychoanalytic Studies), Helin Anahit (Artist and PhD Candidate in Fine Art at Middlesex University UK), Dr. Aram Arkun (Independent Scholar, Henrico USA, Armenia and The Ottoman Empire History), Dr. Cigdem Atakuman (Assistant Professor, Middle East Technical University Turkey, Social Sciences), Dr. Tunc Aybak (Programme Leader, International Politics, Middlesex University UK), Dr. Osman Aytar (Senior Lecturer, Mälardalen University Sweden, Sociology), Dr. Pelin Basci (Associate Professor, Portland State University USA, Turkish Language and Literature), Dr. Jean-François Bayart (Director of research, CNRS Sciences-po France, International Relations), Dr. Derya Bayir (Independent Scholar and Lawyer UK), Dr. Avner Ben-Amos (Professor, Tel Aviv University Israel, History), Dr. Katharina Brizic (Linguist, Austrian Academy of Sciences), Dr. Martin van Bruinessen (Emeritus Professor of the Comparative Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies, Utrecht University Netherlands, Religious Studies and Theology), Dr. Jean-Paul Burdy (Associate Professor, IEP Grenoble France, History), Dr. Jacques Crémer (Professor, Toulouse School of Economics), Dr. Dominique Colas (Professor, Sciences-po France, Political Science), Dr. Ayça Çubukçu (Lecturer on Social Studies, Harvard University USA, Social Studies), Dr. Yorgos Dedes (Senior Lecturer in Turkish, SOAS UK), Dr. Mehmet Ali Dikerdem (Principal Lecturer, Middlesex University, UK), Dr. Kerem Ege (Researcher, INSA Lyon France, Physics), Dr. Deniz Ekici (Assistant Professor, Middle Tennessee State University USA, Foreign Languages and Literature), Başak Ertür (PhD Candidate, Birkbeck College UK, Law), Dr. Howard Eissenstat (Assistant Professor, St. Lawrence University USA, History), Dr. Jean-Louis Fabiani (Professor, EHESS France, Sociology), Dr. Hervé Ferrière (Professor, IUFM-Guadeloupe France, History of Sciences), Dr. Caroline Finkel (Honorary Fellow, University of Edinburgh and University of Exeter UK, History), Dr. Maureen Freely (journalist, novelist, translator and professor, University of Warwick UK), Dr. Jean-Yves Frétigné (Associate Professor, University of Rouen France, History), Dr. Sylvie Gangloff (Associate Researcher, CETOBAC EHESS France, Political Science), Dr. François Georgeon (Director of research, CNRS France, History), Dr. Catherine Goldstein (Director of research, Institut Jussieu France, Mathematics), Dr. James Grehan (Associate Professor & Director Middle East Studies Center, Portland State University USA, History), Dr. André Grelon (Professor, EHESS France, Sociology), Dr. Cengiz Gunes (Associate Lecturer, The Open University UK), Asli Gur (Ph.d Candidate, University of Michigan, Sociology), Dr. Laurie Kain Hart (Stinnes Professor of Global Studies and Anthropology, Haverford College USA), Dr. Ayfer Karakaya-Stump (Asssistant Professor, College of William and Mary USA, History), Dr. Hans-Lukas Kieser (Professor, University of Zürich, History), Dr. Asli Igsiz (Assistant Professor, University of Arizona USA, Turkish Language and Literature), Dr. Henri Lombardi (Lab Besançon CNRS France, Mathématics), Dr. Yannick Lung (Professor, University Bordeaux-IV France, Economics), Dr. Laurent Mignon (University Lecturer in Turkish, University of Oxford UK), Dr. Leyla Neyzi (Professor, Sabanci University Turkey, Arts and Social Sciences), Dr. Matt Noyes (Special Lecturer, Meiji University Japan, Business Administration), Dilan Okcu (PhD Candidate, Queens University Canada, Political Studies), Zeynep Oguz (Ph.D Candidate, Harvard University USA, History of Art and Architecture), Dr. Kerem Öktem (Research Fellow, European Studies Centre, St Antony's College UK), Dilek Ozkan (Ph.D Candidate, University of Athens Greece, History), Dr. Mete Pamir (Independant Researcher Canada, Political Science), Dr. Melissane Parm Schrems (Assistant Professor, St. Lawrence University USA, History), Veli Pehlivan (PhD candidate, EHESS France, Sociology), Dr. Jean Quataert (Professor, Binghamton University State University of New York USA, History), Dr. Jim Ritter (Institut Jussieu France, Mathematics), Dr. Dalita Roger-Hacyan (Associate Professor, University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne France, English Literature), Dr. Monique de Saint Martin (Professor, EHESS France, Sociology), Dr. Evren Savci (Postdoctoral Fellow, The Sexualities Project at Northwestern University USA, Sociology & Gender Studies), Inan Sevinç (Ph.D Candidate, Assistant professor, university of Strasbourg France, Law), Dr. Prakash Shah (Senior Lecturer, Department of Law, Queen Mary University of London UK), Dr. Sara Shields (Professor, University of North Carolina USA, History), Kamal Soelimani (Ph.D Candidate at Columbia University USA, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies), Emmanuel Szurek (Ph.D Candidate, EHESS France, History), Dr. Baki Tezcan (Associate Professor, University of California Davis USA, History and Religious Studies), Dr. Stephane Tirard (Professor, Université de Nantes France, History of Sciences), Stephanie Tuerk (Ph.D Candidate, MIT USA, History and Architecture), Dr. Florin Turcanu (Professor, University of Bucarest Romania, History), Dr. Fatma Ulgen (Assistant Professor, Bilkent University Turkey, Communication), Dr. Mehmet Ugur (Reader in Political Economy, University of Greenwich Business School UK, International Business and Economics), Secil Uluisik (Ph.D Candidate, University of Arizona USA, History), Dr. Dilek Yankaya (Director of research, Sciences-po Paris France, Sociology), Birgul Yilmaz (Ph.D Candidate, Department of Linguistics, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London UK).
*
The International Work Group (GIT): “Academic Liberty and Freedom of Research in Turkey” was created on the initiative of: Dr. Samim Akgönül (Associate Professor of History and Political Science, Université de Strasbourg), Dr. Salih Akın (Associate Professor of Linguistics, Université de Rouen), Dr. Marianne Baudin (Professor of Psychoanalysis, Université de Paris 13), Dr. Faruk Bilici (Professor of History, INALCO), Dr. Hamit Bozarslan (Professor of History and Sociology, Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales/EHESS), Dr. Cengiz Cağla (Invited Professor of Political Science, EHESS), Dr. Renée Champion (Researcher, Arab Literature and Women Studies, CHSIM/EHESS), Dr. Etienne Copeaux (Historian, Turkish Studies), Dr. Philippe Corcuff (Associate Professor of Political Science, Sciences Po Lyon), Dr. Yves Déloye (Professor of Political Science, Sciences Po Bordeaux and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Secretary General of the Association française de science politique), Dr. Gilles Dorronsoro (Professor of Political Science, Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), Dr. Vincent Duclert (Associate Professor of History, EHESS), Dr. Ragıp Ege (Professor of Economics, Université de Strasbourg), Dr. Gulçin Erdinç Lelandais (PhD, Sociology, EHESS, Marie Curie Fellow, University of Warwick), Dr. Didier Francfort (Professor of History, Université de Nancy-II), Dr. Zeynep Gambetti (Ph.D, Political Philosophy, Université de Paris-VII), Dr. Eric Geoffroy (Associate Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies, Université de Strasbourg), Dr. Nilüfer Göle (Professor of Sociology, EHESS), Dr. Diana Gonzalez (Ph.D, Sociology and Aesthetics, EHESS), Dr. Gérard Groc (Researcher, History, IREMAN/CNRS), Deniz Günce Demirhisar (Ph.D student, Sociology, EHESS and ATER, Université de Paris 13), Dr. Ali Kazancigil (Co-director of the revue Anatoli, Political Science), Iclal Incioglu (Ph.D student, Social Psychology, Université de Paris-VII), Dr. Lilian Mathieu (Director of Research, CNRS, ENS de Lyon, Sociology), Dr. Claire Mouradian (Director of Research CNRS, History), Dr. Christophe Prochasson (Professor of History, EHESS), Dr. Daniel Rottenberg (M.D., Ph .D candidate, History, Université de Strasbourg), Emine Sarikartal (Ph.D Candidate, translator and editor, Philosophy, Université de Paris-Nanterre), Ferhat Taylan (Ph.D Candidate and translator, Philosophy, Université de Bordeaux), Dr. Lucette Valensi (Professor of History, EHESS), Dr. Murat Yıldızoğlu (Professor of Economics, Université de Bordeaux).
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Headlines
Dear Readers,
Our daily postings will conclude tomorrow with the list of new signatures added to the inaugural declaration of GIT. If you are interested to add your signature to this list, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr; to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
Starting next week, we will start posting twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays. Today we thought of giving you a recap of what we have done in the last two weeks and a half. Since the inauguration of our blog in late December 2011, we aimed to document the Turkish government's various attempts to define 'terrorism' in an extensive manner to tighten the security regime, to persecute journalists and academics, pressure universities and curtail political participation.
We aim not only to document these practices but also to point to their unjustified and unfair aspects. We posted the letters of those, who are incarcerated just for expressing their views. We will continue our efforts in solidarity with other GIT branches and with academics, journalists and students whose right to freedom of expression, research, and information is violated or under threat in Turkey. Here are some of the headlines from our earlier posts:
And we published a few pieces of commentary as well.
Please check us out every Sunday and Wednesday from tomorrow on!
We wish you a peaceful 2012!
GIT-North America
Our daily postings will conclude tomorrow with the list of new signatures added to the inaugural declaration of GIT. If you are interested to add your signature to this list, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr; to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
Starting next week, we will start posting twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays. Today we thought of giving you a recap of what we have done in the last two weeks and a half. Since the inauguration of our blog in late December 2011, we aimed to document the Turkish government's various attempts to define 'terrorism' in an extensive manner to tighten the security regime, to persecute journalists and academics, pressure universities and curtail political participation.
We aim not only to document these practices but also to point to their unjustified and unfair aspects. We posted the letters of those, who are incarcerated just for expressing their views. We will continue our efforts in solidarity with other GIT branches and with academics, journalists and students whose right to freedom of expression, research, and information is violated or under threat in Turkey. Here are some of the headlines from our earlier posts:
About a description of the new extended security regime, you can read the Minister of Internal Affairs' exemplary speech New Definitions of Terrorism and our denouncement of it here
About various examples of censorship on research and artistic work, and the pressure on scientists, artists and journalists please check out:
Against the police stations of minds: Ismail Besikci foundation
Ragıp Zarakolu writes from the prison: on the boundaries of free speech
Kutluğ Ataman disowns the Turkish government
Ragıp Zarakolu writes from the prison: on the boundaries of free speech
Kutluğ Ataman disowns the Turkish government
We also reflected on hate speech and how it is spread in the media and reinforced by the new press reform. We believe that hate speech triggers hate crimes that many in Turkey suffer from one way or another.
You can read the letters from the prison here
And we published a few pieces of commentary as well.
Please check us out every Sunday and Wednesday from tomorrow on!
We wish you a peaceful 2012!
GIT-North America
Friday, January 13, 2012
Newsfeed - January 13
To sign the inaugural declaration of GIT, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr -- to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
The "thing" in Turkish politics
"'Something' has come to power in Turkey, but not sharia," Ahmet Şık, the investigative journalist in jail, said in his letter from the prison. "I can't name that 'thing' properly." "You should obey or you should stay silent or you should go to jail," Şık said. "Yes, this is the new 'thing' that has come to power in Turkey." Find out what this "thing" might be in Justin Vela's analysis in Foreign Policy, which you can access via GIT - North America.
Another case of censorship in art
An image of two covered women approaching to kiss one another, a woman in a bikini wearing a head scarf, and two men caressing and kissing each other were found "inappropriate" in a photography exhibit. Find out the details on GIT - North America.
Hate speech triggers hate crime
Read about a panel on hate speech held in Istanbul that discussed the boundaries between hate speech and freedom of expression on GIT - North America.
Academics oppose internet filters at universities
GIT - North America had previously covered Darwin and internet filters in Turkey. There, we had provided a link to the signature campaign pioneered by a group of scholars to oppose the internet filters at universities, requesting uncensored, unfiltered access to information on campuses. Here is an English-language coverage of the concerns of these academics.
The "thing" in Turkish politics
"'Something' has come to power in Turkey, but not sharia," Ahmet Şık, the investigative journalist in jail, said in his letter from the prison. "I can't name that 'thing' properly." "You should obey or you should stay silent or you should go to jail," Şık said. "Yes, this is the new 'thing' that has come to power in Turkey." Find out what this "thing" might be in Justin Vela's analysis in Foreign Policy, which you can access via GIT - North America.
Another case of censorship in art
An image of two covered women approaching to kiss one another, a woman in a bikini wearing a head scarf, and two men caressing and kissing each other were found "inappropriate" in a photography exhibit. Find out the details on GIT - North America.
Hate speech triggers hate crime
Read about a panel on hate speech held in Istanbul that discussed the boundaries between hate speech and freedom of expression on GIT - North America.
Academics oppose internet filters at universities
GIT - North America had previously covered Darwin and internet filters in Turkey. There, we had provided a link to the signature campaign pioneered by a group of scholars to oppose the internet filters at universities, requesting uncensored, unfiltered access to information on campuses. Here is an English-language coverage of the concerns of these academics.
The "thing" in Turkish politics
"'Something' has come to power in Turkey, but not sharia," Ahmet Şık, the investigative journalist in jail, said in his letter from the prison. "I can't name that 'thing' properly." "You should obey or you should stay silent or you should go to jail," Şık said. "Yes, this is the new 'thing' that has come to power in Turkey."Justin Vela's "Behind Bars in the Deep State," published in Foreign Policy on January 11, provides food for thought about the Jama'at. Cema'at in Turkish spelling, this word usually means "congregation" (its Arabic, Persian, and Urdu usages also encompass the meaning of "political party" as in Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan). So in order to be descriptive, it has to have an adjective, such as the Muslim congregation, or the congregation of the followers of so-and-so. The followers of Fethullah Gülen used to be called the "Gülen cema'ati," the Jama'at of Fethullah Gülen. But now they are simply called the "Cema'at." When you utter this word in a Turkish setting, everybody knows what you are referring to. It is not unlike the American "Fellowship," also known as the "Family."
The Jama'at comes under closer scrutiny, as it comes across as the secret coalition partner of AKP, and legitimate questions are asked about their becoming/being the new deep state of Turkey. To find out more, read Vela's analysis.
Another case of censorship in art
On January 8 and 9, 2012 several media outlets reported on the "objectionable" content of an exhibition by the members of the Izmir Art of Photography Society entitled "Antithetical." Housed by the Municipality's art space, the exhibit had opened up on January 3, and was supposed to remain on view until January 23. The news item claimed that "the municipality officials" were not kept abreast of the content of what was on display, and that the officials were already in the process of contacting the Photography Society in an effort to remove the "objectionable" pieces from the exhibit. Another related news on January 11 clarified that the three works that were especially underscored as "inappropriate" (an image of two covered women approaching to kiss one another, a women in a bikini wearing a head scarf, and two men caressing and kissing each other) had been removed by January 8 as a result of the municipality's efforts. In response to this censorship, the Art of Photography Society has reportedly withdrawn their remaining 30 photographs from the municipality's art space.
Hate speech triggers hate crime
Yesterday, we provided an example of hate speech through the case of a media coverage of the arrested academic Büşra Ersanlı. And together with it, we addressed the issue of hate speech and Büşra Ersanlı's case as examples to illustrate the problems of the controversial press reform on GIT - North America.
Along those lines, we would like to draw your attention to a panel on hate speech held in Istanbul about two months ago. Similar to Ragıp Zarakolu who wrote from prison on the boundaries of free speech, during this panel, a discussion on the boundaries between hate speech and freedom of expression took place:
"Hate Speech and Freedom of Expression: Can we not say everything we want?" was the title of the first panel discussion as a start of a series of activities at the Meeting Against Hate Crimes in Istanbul on Saturday and Sunday (19/20 November). The meeting took place at the Dolapdere (Istanbul) campus of Bilgi University.
The panel discussion was attended by Prof Yasemin İnceoğlu from Galatasaray University; social anthropologist Ass. Prof Aykan Erdemir, Bursa deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and former staff member of the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ); and journalist Pınar Öğünç from the nation-wide Radikal daily newspaper.
İnceoğlu stated at the beginning of her speech that the rhetoric of the media reproduced the rhetoric of the social power. She said that journalists became a part of the social power structure. İnceoğlu considered it a fundamental issue how journalists either reproduced the ideologies they encounter or took a stance against them. She emphasized the importance of how news were being made.
The academic said that hate speech was the origin of hate crime. 'It can be identified as the expression of intolerance that encourages and paves the way to hate crime. The targeted groups are being told that there is no place for them in society and this message is constantly renewed. This is a deprivation from the fundamental human rights to life and to participation', İnceoğlu explained."
To read more on the subject, please visit:
Along those lines, we would like to draw your attention to a panel on hate speech held in Istanbul about two months ago. Similar to Ragıp Zarakolu who wrote from prison on the boundaries of free speech, during this panel, a discussion on the boundaries between hate speech and freedom of expression took place:
"Hate Speech and Freedom of Expression: Can we not say everything we want?" was the title of the first panel discussion as a start of a series of activities at the Meeting Against Hate Crimes in Istanbul on Saturday and Sunday (19/20 November). The meeting took place at the Dolapdere (Istanbul) campus of Bilgi University.
The panel discussion was attended by Prof Yasemin İnceoğlu from Galatasaray University; social anthropologist Ass. Prof Aykan Erdemir, Bursa deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and former staff member of the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ); and journalist Pınar Öğünç from the nation-wide Radikal daily newspaper.
İnceoğlu stated at the beginning of her speech that the rhetoric of the media reproduced the rhetoric of the social power. She said that journalists became a part of the social power structure. İnceoğlu considered it a fundamental issue how journalists either reproduced the ideologies they encounter or took a stance against them. She emphasized the importance of how news were being made.
The academic said that hate speech was the origin of hate crime. 'It can be identified as the expression of intolerance that encourages and paves the way to hate crime. The targeted groups are being told that there is no place for them in society and this message is constantly renewed. This is a deprivation from the fundamental human rights to life and to participation', İnceoğlu explained."
To read more on the subject, please visit:
Academics oppose internet filter at universities
GIT - North America had previously covered Darwin and internet filters in Turkey. There, we had provided a link to the signature campaign pioneered by a group of scholars to oppose the internet filters at universities, requesting uncensored, unfiltered access to information on campuses. Here is an English-language coverage of the concerns of these academics.
[...]
The so-called "Secure Internet" application was enforced by the Prime Ministry Telecommunication Association (BTK) on 22 November 2011. Some universities supported the internet filtering system. When it made the news that a related decision was taken by the senate, academics started to counteract the application.
Prof Mutlu Binark of the Başkent University and Prof. Kürşat Çağıltay of the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) are the leading figures of the campaign. The declaration claims that it is scientifically and ethically unacceptable to support the senate in this application that narrowed freedom of expression.
[...]
"Universities should be places of critic, scientific and free opinion. It is absolutely thought-provoking and also dangerous to use these places as tools for pubic work", the campaign warned.
"The application was realized by the government as a central, arbitrary, non-transparent filtering and censoring system. The options provided do not remove the reality of censorship applied by the government. The application narrows the limits of freedom of expression and imposes a single type family/children design on our citizens", the text read.
* Signatures can be sent to the following e-mail address: kayit@alternatifbilisim.org
To read the rest of the text, please visit:
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/135331-academics-oppose-internet-filter-at-universities
Academics Oppose Internet Filter at Universities
"Upon the initiative of the Alternative Communication Association, more than a hundred academics launched a signature campaign against applying the disputed internet filtering system at universities.Istanbul - BİA News Center
10 January 2012, Tuesday
[...]
The so-called "Secure Internet" application was enforced by the Prime Ministry Telecommunication Association (BTK) on 22 November 2011. Some universities supported the internet filtering system. When it made the news that a related decision was taken by the senate, academics started to counteract the application.
Prof Mutlu Binark of the Başkent University and Prof. Kürşat Çağıltay of the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) are the leading figures of the campaign. The declaration claims that it is scientifically and ethically unacceptable to support the senate in this application that narrowed freedom of expression.
[...]
"Universities should be places of critic, scientific and free opinion. It is absolutely thought-provoking and also dangerous to use these places as tools for pubic work", the campaign warned.
"The application was realized by the government as a central, arbitrary, non-transparent filtering and censoring system. The options provided do not remove the reality of censorship applied by the government. The application narrows the limits of freedom of expression and imposes a single type family/children design on our citizens", the text read.
* Signatures can be sent to the following e-mail address: kayit@alternatifbilisim.org
To read the rest of the text, please visit:
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/135331-academics-oppose-internet-filter-at-universities
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Newsfeed - January 12
To sign the inaugural declaration of GIT, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr -- to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
Hate speech
Visit our hate speech page for our first example of hate speech in Turkish media, which is a news report directed against Büşra Ersanlı.
Büşra Ersanlı, hate speech and issues with the press reform
Read a news analysis on the implications of the proposed press reform, using the example of hate speech directed against Büşra Ersanlı as a demonstration of what happens when the government or the judiciary shares private information with the press.
Council of Europe report on Turkey
Read the latest report of the Council of Europe on human rights and judiciary in Turkey via GIT - North America.
Correction on Radikal
When we realize that we made a mistake, we correct. See how on GIT - North America.
Hate speech
Visit our hate speech page for our first example of hate speech in Turkish media, which is a news report directed against Büşra Ersanlı.
Büşra Ersanlı, hate speech and issues with the press reform
Read a news analysis on the implications of the proposed press reform, using the example of hate speech directed against Büşra Ersanlı as a demonstration of what happens when the government or the judiciary shares private information with the press.
Council of Europe report on Turkey
Read the latest report of the Council of Europe on human rights and judiciary in Turkey via GIT - North America.
Correction on Radikal
When we realize that we made a mistake, we correct. See how on GIT - North America.
Büşra Ersanlı, hate speech and issues with the "press reform"
The controversial "press reform" plan of the Ministry of Justice was covered a few days ago on GIT - North America. Today, an English translation of a newspaper article on the recently arrested academic Büşra Ersanlı exposed on our Hate Speech section illustrates very clearly what kinds of violations of personal information might be legalized by the State, under the disguise of "press reform."
As we had reported, according to this reform, leaking personal information to the media and violating privacy of citizens of Turkey will only be considered illegal if the private information is gathered illegally. In other words, if it is a member of the law enforcement or intelligence agency that leaks private information to the media (i.e., as part of an ongoing investigation wired conversation transcripts of people about whom there is no evidence of crime, for instance), this will not be considered as a violation of privacy. Because the information will be gathered as part of an investigation [hence, "legal"] no matter whether the collected information is actually directly related to the case or not, any information leaked to the press as such will be considered legal.
What does this mean, exactly?
The article entitled "Ersanlı's Love for Jewish [people]" published on our Hate Speech section illustrates all the concerns with the above issues. In a telling defamation campaign-like article published right after Ersanlı was arrested, Yeni Akit [formerly Vakit] makes use of abundant antisemitism, distorted information (i.e., labeling Ersanlı's course on "gender" as a terrorist-raising course as if a course on gender is a lethal terrorist weapon, muffling the oddity of labeling a course on gender as a terrorist content [1] with a bunch of unrelated personal information, beginning with Ersanlı's ex-husband's being Jewish, family registration information as well as previous criminal record not only of herself but also her extended family or ex-spouses, and so on) and thus strongly suggests collaboration with government official(s).
One wonders if the point of this article is to provide information as to why Ersanlı has been arrested as part of KCK trials, as the references to the "legally collected wire-tapped conversations" suggest, why then, the author found it necessary to title it "Ersanlı's love for Jewish [people]" [Ersanlı'nın Yahudi aşkı]?
The nature of this collection of personal/private information on not only Ersanlı but also those who have been related to her, however, is not the only implication that the source is a government official. In fact, in addition to the implicit statements like "it has been discovered," "it came to light," "it has been detected," which mask the agent of the sentence (i.e., who discovered? who detected it? ) the author of the article also makes bold and explicit statements that indicate the source with references to the Prosecutor's office and such statements as follows:
"According to legally collected wire-tapped phone conversations, the same courses given to PKK in the rural areas were repeated in the alleged Academy."
If we remember how the legally collected information as part of an investigation leaked to the media will not be considered a breach of a person's privacy according to the Ministry of Justice's new "press reform," the problem becomes clearer: should that law pass, such articles will not only be justified but also, a legal ground will be prepared to legitimize them, if not encouraging them. And not only the detained, but also the privacy of people completely unrelated to a court case will be exposed--as exemplified in the article on Ersanlı to a certain extent (i.e., the ethnic-religious background of her ex-husbands as well as their previous criminal record were clearly investigated, and their only relation to this case is being Ersanlı's ex-husband), and these people will not have a legal venue to complain about the breach of their own privacy.
What is also worrisome is that, the Minister of Interior who had recently invented "scientific terrorism" to describe such cases as Ersanlı's, also used parts of this private information on Ersanlı to normalize her arrest. To defend her arrest, he advised us to look at her pre-1980s youth activities and her family members, pointing at her former brother-in-law who is arrested as part of Ergenekon trials. The boundaries of such publications are thus not only limited to the publication itself, but becomes part of a larger strategy to engage an arrested figure publicly.
Additionally, as was already expressed here on GIT - North America, the "press reform" that the Minister of Justice announced was thought as a remedy to the European Court of Human Rights verdicts, raises a great concern. Considering how in many high profile cases there were leaks of personal information (e.g., national identification numbers, passport copies, genealogy, private conversations which have nothing to do with the case but which serve the purpose of defamation, and so on) to the media as is exemplified with this article on the arrested academic Büşra Ersanlı, this current "reform" plans by the Ministry of Justice to "improve" freedom of expression are likely to secure the state's freedom to violate its citizens' privacy only.
"He further expresses his concern about the way certain offences relating to terrorism and membership of a criminal organisation are defined in the Turkish legislation, leaving room for a very wide interpretation by courts. 'Terrorism poses enormous challenges and difficulties, but it should be fought while fully respecting human rights. Prosecutors and judges need to be further sensitised to the case-law of the ECtHR concerning in particular the distinction between terrorist acts and acts falling under the scope of the rights to freedom of thought, expression, association and assembly'.
The Commissioner stresses the importance of guaranteeing a fair trial by ensuring adversarial proceedings and equality of arms at all stages of the criminal procedure. He points to a number of shortcomings in this respect, including rules concerning the suspects’ access to evidence against them, as well as practical problems limiting the capacity of the defence to cross-examine and summon witnesses and experts. He also voices concerns about the use of secret witnesses and suggests a more effective judicial scrutiny when authorising ‘protective measures’, such as wire-tapping."
Thus, rather than legitimizing the leaking of "legally collected" private information to the media, perhaps a real remedy to the judicial system should rather be putting into question Turkey's anti-terrorism law and its problems, as well as implementing a close scrutiny process in the context of "legal wire-tapping" and better protect individual rights to privacy, expression, and association and identity.
[1] Not that it really matters, as labeling any content of a course as "terrorist" would be problematic. Aside from hindering academic freedom, such statements also assume people are passive recipients with no agency, who can only be indoctrinated and not develop a response of their own to a content that they are exposed. Such approaches, therefore, tell us less about a course and more about the state and official approaches to it.
As we had reported, according to this reform, leaking personal information to the media and violating privacy of citizens of Turkey will only be considered illegal if the private information is gathered illegally. In other words, if it is a member of the law enforcement or intelligence agency that leaks private information to the media (i.e., as part of an ongoing investigation wired conversation transcripts of people about whom there is no evidence of crime, for instance), this will not be considered as a violation of privacy. Because the information will be gathered as part of an investigation [hence, "legal"] no matter whether the collected information is actually directly related to the case or not, any information leaked to the press as such will be considered legal.
What does this mean, exactly?
The article entitled "Ersanlı's Love for Jewish [people]" published on our Hate Speech section illustrates all the concerns with the above issues. In a telling defamation campaign-like article published right after Ersanlı was arrested, Yeni Akit [formerly Vakit] makes use of abundant antisemitism, distorted information (i.e., labeling Ersanlı's course on "gender" as a terrorist-raising course as if a course on gender is a lethal terrorist weapon, muffling the oddity of labeling a course on gender as a terrorist content [1] with a bunch of unrelated personal information, beginning with Ersanlı's ex-husband's being Jewish, family registration information as well as previous criminal record not only of herself but also her extended family or ex-spouses, and so on) and thus strongly suggests collaboration with government official(s).
One wonders if the point of this article is to provide information as to why Ersanlı has been arrested as part of KCK trials, as the references to the "legally collected wire-tapped conversations" suggest, why then, the author found it necessary to title it "Ersanlı's love for Jewish [people]" [Ersanlı'nın Yahudi aşkı]?
The nature of this collection of personal/private information on not only Ersanlı but also those who have been related to her, however, is not the only implication that the source is a government official. In fact, in addition to the implicit statements like "it has been discovered," "it came to light," "it has been detected," which mask the agent of the sentence (i.e., who discovered? who detected it? ) the author of the article also makes bold and explicit statements that indicate the source with references to the Prosecutor's office and such statements as follows:
"According to legally collected wire-tapped phone conversations, the same courses given to PKK in the rural areas were repeated in the alleged Academy."
If we remember how the legally collected information as part of an investigation leaked to the media will not be considered a breach of a person's privacy according to the Ministry of Justice's new "press reform," the problem becomes clearer: should that law pass, such articles will not only be justified but also, a legal ground will be prepared to legitimize them, if not encouraging them. And not only the detained, but also the privacy of people completely unrelated to a court case will be exposed--as exemplified in the article on Ersanlı to a certain extent (i.e., the ethnic-religious background of her ex-husbands as well as their previous criminal record were clearly investigated, and their only relation to this case is being Ersanlı's ex-husband), and these people will not have a legal venue to complain about the breach of their own privacy.
What is also worrisome is that, the Minister of Interior who had recently invented "scientific terrorism" to describe such cases as Ersanlı's, also used parts of this private information on Ersanlı to normalize her arrest. To defend her arrest, he advised us to look at her pre-1980s youth activities and her family members, pointing at her former brother-in-law who is arrested as part of Ergenekon trials. The boundaries of such publications are thus not only limited to the publication itself, but becomes part of a larger strategy to engage an arrested figure publicly.
Additionally, as was already expressed here on GIT - North America, the "press reform" that the Minister of Justice announced was thought as a remedy to the European Court of Human Rights verdicts, raises a great concern. Considering how in many high profile cases there were leaks of personal information (e.g., national identification numbers, passport copies, genealogy, private conversations which have nothing to do with the case but which serve the purpose of defamation, and so on) to the media as is exemplified with this article on the arrested academic Büşra Ersanlı, this current "reform" plans by the Ministry of Justice to "improve" freedom of expression are likely to secure the state's freedom to violate its citizens' privacy only.
In fact, as is also reported on GIT - North America, following his visit to Turkey from 10 to 14 October 2011, Thomas Hammarberg--Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe prepared a report on the administration of justice and protection of human rights and the judiciary in Turkey. Hammarberg raised concerns about the judicial scrutiny when authorizing wire-tapping, among other issues. The Council of Europe website addresses some of his concerns, as follows:
"He further expresses his concern about the way certain offences relating to terrorism and membership of a criminal organisation are defined in the Turkish legislation, leaving room for a very wide interpretation by courts. 'Terrorism poses enormous challenges and difficulties, but it should be fought while fully respecting human rights. Prosecutors and judges need to be further sensitised to the case-law of the ECtHR concerning in particular the distinction between terrorist acts and acts falling under the scope of the rights to freedom of thought, expression, association and assembly'.
The Commissioner stresses the importance of guaranteeing a fair trial by ensuring adversarial proceedings and equality of arms at all stages of the criminal procedure. He points to a number of shortcomings in this respect, including rules concerning the suspects’ access to evidence against them, as well as practical problems limiting the capacity of the defence to cross-examine and summon witnesses and experts. He also voices concerns about the use of secret witnesses and suggests a more effective judicial scrutiny when authorising ‘protective measures’, such as wire-tapping."
Thus, rather than legitimizing the leaking of "legally collected" private information to the media, perhaps a real remedy to the judicial system should rather be putting into question Turkey's anti-terrorism law and its problems, as well as implementing a close scrutiny process in the context of "legal wire-tapping" and better protect individual rights to privacy, expression, and association and identity.
[1] Not that it really matters, as labeling any content of a course as "terrorist" would be problematic. Aside from hindering academic freedom, such statements also assume people are passive recipients with no agency, who can only be indoctrinated and not develop a response of their own to a content that they are exposed. Such approaches, therefore, tell us less about a course and more about the state and official approaches to it.
Council of Europe issues a new report on human rights and judiciary in Turkey
Following his visit to Turkey from 10 to 14 October 2011, Thomas Hammarberg Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe prepared a report on Turkey and the judiciary.
Administration of justice and protection of human rights in Turkey
Strasbourg January 10, 2011
[...]
"The Commissioner welcomes important progress made in combating impunity for serious human rights violations, in particular in connection with torture and ill-treatment, but considers that problems remain, some of which have been demonstrated in the investigations into the murder of the writer and journalist Hrant Dink. The need to obtain prior administrative authorisation for investigating cases not relating to torture, short prescription periods, and lack of statistics concerning the fight against impunity are the main factors of concern. The Commissioner is also concerned about disproportionately lenient sentences handed down in certain cases, for example those involving violence against LGBT persons.
Commissioner Hammarberg urges the authorities to improve the standing of victims in criminal investigations and proceedings. He encourages the establishment of an effective police complaints mechanism and the mandatory recording of all interrogations.
He further expresses his concern about the way certain offences relating to terrorism and membership of a criminal organisation are defined in the Turkish legislation, leaving room for a very wide interpretation by courts. “Terrorism poses enormous challenges and difficulties, but it should be fought while fully respecting human rights. Prosecutors and judges need to be further sensitised to the case-law of the ECtHR concerning in particular the distinction between terrorist acts and acts falling under the scope of the rights to freedom of thought, expression, association and assembly”.
The Commissioner stresses the importance of guaranteeing a fair trial by ensuring adversarial proceedings and equality of arms at all stages of the criminal procedure. He points to a number of shortcomings in this respect, including rules concerning the suspects’ access to evidence against them, as well as practical problems limiting the capacity of the defence to cross-examine and summon witnesses and experts. He also voices concerns about the use of secret witnesses and suggests a more effective judicial scrutiny when authorising ‘protective measures’, such as wire-tapping."
To read the text in full and have full access to the report itself, please visit:
and
Correction on Radikal
In a previous post on GIT -North America blog, we had written that "[...] Radikal, the Turkish Daily, seems to have censored the talk and among other things, removed Washington and 'think tank' from Minister Şahin's definitions of places where terrorism and terrorist propaganda are bred (even though that part of the text is given in quotation marks)." However, according to Radikal's editorial coordinator, Bülent Mumay, the news published first on December 26 on Radikal's website was a direct quote from the original report by Anatolia News Agency, and was corrected in the printed version of Radikal the next day, which used the Doğan News Agency's report.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Newsfeed - January 11
To sign the inaugural declaration of GIT, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr -- to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
Seventeen students arrested!
According to IMC-TV, 55 people were arrested in six different provinces of Turkey yesterday. While some of these arrests were related to the ongoing KCK trials, others were directed against college students. For more details, see the report of IMC-TV in Turkish.
New GIT branches in Turkey and the UK!
GIT (Groupe international de travail / International Work Group) "Academic Liberty and Freedom of Research in Turkey" has two new branches. GITTürkiye will hold its first meeting soon, for more information see GITinitiative. GIT-UK Branch was established following their first meeting on December 15. For more information, see GITinitiative.
The Chamber Pot Affair and the question of censorship in art
A series of news items and responses appeared in the Turkish media over the last few weeks in relation to a work of art commissioned and subsequently rejected by Istanbul Modern Art Museum. Read a news analysis on this affair by art historian Zeynep Oğuz on our Commentary page.
Darwin's trouble with internet filters in Turkey
Read about the Turkish internet filtering system -'Child Profile'- that denies access to all internet sites related to theory of evolution and Charles Darwin, as well as the academic reactions to this censorship on GIT - North America.
Kutluğ Ataman disowns the Turkish government
Read a summary translation of selected passages on Minister of Interior's new definitions of terrorism, and so on, from Ezgi Başaran's interview with one of Turkey's most internationally-acclaimed artists, which was published in Radikal on Monday, January 9, on GIT - North America.
Seventeen students arrested!
According to IMC-TV, 55 people were arrested in six different provinces of Turkey yesterday. While some of these arrests were related to the ongoing KCK trials, others were directed against college students. For more details, see the report of IMC-TV in Turkish.
New GIT branches in Turkey and the UK!
GIT (Groupe international de travail / International Work Group) "Academic Liberty and Freedom of Research in Turkey" has two new branches. GITTürkiye will hold its first meeting soon, for more information see GITinitiative. GIT-UK Branch was established following their first meeting on December 15. For more information, see GITinitiative.
The Chamber Pot Affair and the question of censorship in art
A series of news items and responses appeared in the Turkish media over the last few weeks in relation to a work of art commissioned and subsequently rejected by Istanbul Modern Art Museum. Read a news analysis on this affair by art historian Zeynep Oğuz on our Commentary page.
Darwin's trouble with internet filters in Turkey
Read about the Turkish internet filtering system -'Child Profile'- that denies access to all internet sites related to theory of evolution and Charles Darwin, as well as the academic reactions to this censorship on GIT - North America.
Kutluğ Ataman disowns the Turkish government
Read a summary translation of selected passages on Minister of Interior's new definitions of terrorism, and so on, from Ezgi Başaran's interview with one of Turkey's most internationally-acclaimed artists, which was published in Radikal on Monday, January 9, on GIT - North America.
Darwin's Trouble with Internet Filters in Turkey
Censorship in Turkey is omnipresent. The country began the new year with the horrendous Uludere killings and the scandalous silence of the mainstream media about the incident (see GIT - North America's previous reports here, here, and here). The number of journalists laid off or jailed for writing critically about the government is rampant (97 journalists were in jail as of Tuesday, January 10).
But the censorship in Turkey is not only limited to political dissent and claims for democratization. After a two-year ban on Youtube, which was lifted in October 2011, the Council of Information Technology and Communications (BTK) recently introduced a new internet filtering system -'Child Profile'- that denies access to all internet sites related to theory of evolution and Charles Darwin. While the internet users can lift the ban by voting against it on the site, where the 'prohibition' message pops up, the question remains: why does BTK categorize the websites about the evolution theory harmful for children?
[Read Bianet's report on the merger of internet filtering and censorship in Turkey; Darwin's trouble in Turkey; a related report on Science Insider; and another piece on Green Prophet.]
This internet filtering system prompted fifteen academics from a variety of Turkish universities’ communication faculties to sign a declaration protesting the filter package which requires web users to choose one of two content-filtering packages. The scholars defined the filter as “arbitrary, state-run, centralized censorship” in their declaration yesterday in Ankara. Read more on Hurriyet Daily News. The declaration's full text in Turkish with additional signatories may be found on Alternatif Bilişim. The union of teachers and education workers in Turkey also made a press release condemning the continued efforts to exclude Darwin and his theories from school curricula.
But the censorship in Turkey is not only limited to political dissent and claims for democratization. After a two-year ban on Youtube, which was lifted in October 2011, the Council of Information Technology and Communications (BTK) recently introduced a new internet filtering system -'Child Profile'- that denies access to all internet sites related to theory of evolution and Charles Darwin. While the internet users can lift the ban by voting against it on the site, where the 'prohibition' message pops up, the question remains: why does BTK categorize the websites about the evolution theory harmful for children?
[Read Bianet's report on the merger of internet filtering and censorship in Turkey; Darwin's trouble in Turkey; a related report on Science Insider; and another piece on Green Prophet.]
This internet filtering system prompted fifteen academics from a variety of Turkish universities’ communication faculties to sign a declaration protesting the filter package which requires web users to choose one of two content-filtering packages. The scholars defined the filter as “arbitrary, state-run, centralized censorship” in their declaration yesterday in Ankara. Read more on Hurriyet Daily News. The declaration's full text in Turkish with additional signatories may be found on Alternatif Bilişim. The union of teachers and education workers in Turkey also made a press release condemning the continued efforts to exclude Darwin and his theories from school curricula.
Kutluğ Ataman disowns the Turkish government
Kutluğ Ataman, a Turkish film maker and contemporary artist who has an international reputation that is crowned by the Carnegie Prize (2004), Capital Abraaj Prize (2009), and the European Cultural Foundation's Princess Margriet Award (2011), was interviewed by Ezgi Başaran in the daily Radikal on Monday, January 9.
Ataman states that he was a supporter of the AKP government during the last two elections (2007, 2011), in the process leading to the election of Abdullah Gül to presidency in 2007, and the referendum of September 12, 2010, which amended the Turkish constitution.
After the infamous speech of the Turkish Minister of the Interior İdris Naim Şahin on December 26, 2011, in which Mr. Şahin invented new categories of terrorism such as terrorism by art and science done by artists, authors, and professors, Ataman states that “not a single artist and producer of culture who represents contemporary Turkey ... can support the government. Because s/he would have no credibility, at least, on international platform.”
Ataman states that he himself did not change from an AKP supporter to an AKP critique. It was rather AKP that has changed and become an obstacle on the path of Turkey: “I feel fooled, stupid. And as a gay man, I deplore the minister.” [Mr. Şahin’s speech included, among others, this homophobic statement with reference to KCK (Koma Civakên Kurdistan, Union of Communities in Kurdistan): “It is an environment where all kinds of lewd behavior, moral corruption, every form of inhuman state takes place, from eating pork, to Zoroastrianism, from whatever nation and brotherhoods, to, excuse my language, being gay.”]
Despite his frustrations, Ataman is optimistic. “Optimism is my ideology. Because s/he thinks that there is nothing left to do, a pessimist is --in the final analysis-- a supporter of the status quo. Even in these dark days when the state is bombing its own people, I have to be optimistic. This is my duty as an artist.”
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Newsfeed - January 10
To sign the inaugural declaration of GIT, please send an e-mail to diana.gonzalez2@wanadoo.fr -- to join GIT - North America, e-mail gitamerica@yahoo.com
Prisoners Gazette: available today!
Read about the second issue of the Prisoners Gazette written by journalists in prison, which is published today (January 10) as a supplement of the Aydınlık, Atılım, BirGün and Evrensel newspapers. The issue is prepared by 43 journalists in prison, two journalists who were released recently and two guest writers. Read more via GIT - North America.
Read the English translation of journalist Banu Güven's piece, announcing the establishment of Ismail Besikci Foundation to support autonomous research, on GIT - North America.
Ragıp Zarakolu writes from the prison: On the boundaries of free speech
Prisoners Gazette: available today!
Read about the second issue of the Prisoners Gazette written by journalists in prison, which is published today (January 10) as a supplement of the Aydınlık, Atılım, BirGün and Evrensel newspapers. The issue is prepared by 43 journalists in prison, two journalists who were released recently and two guest writers. Read more via GIT - North America.
Against the police stations of minds: Ismail Besikci Foundation
Read the English translation of journalist Banu Güven's piece, announcing the establishment of Ismail Besikci Foundation to support autonomous research, on GIT - North America.
Ragıp Zarakolu writes from the prison: On the boundaries of free speech
In a long opinion piece he wrote for the Turkish daily Radikal from the prison, Ragıp Zarakolu addressed the Turkish hysteria around the French parliamentary proposal about declaring genocide denial a crime. Read a summary on GIT – North America.
A culture of silence in Turkey
Read more on the silence surrounding the Uludere massacre of December 28, including a link to Howard Eissenstat's commentary, on GIT - North America.
Read more on the silence surrounding the Uludere massacre of December 28, including a link to Howard Eissenstat's commentary, on GIT - North America.
Prisoners Gazette - Tutuklu Gazete
'Prisoners Gazette' Published with "Enlarged Staff"
From Bianet, Monday, January 9, 2012
The second issue of the Prisoners Gazette written by journalists in prison will be distributed on Tuesday (10 January) as a supplement of the Aydınlık, Atılım, BirGün and Evrensel newspapers.
The issue will be printed with more than 100,000 copies. 16 pages were prepared by 43 journalists in prison, two journalists who were released recently and two guest writers.
The issue also includes an obituary for journalist Suzan Zengin. She underwent a heart surgery after she had been released from prison from which she was not able to recover.
The Turkey Journalists Union (TGS) announced a number of quotations from the "enlarged staff of writers:"
Ragıp Zarakolu: "I could not bear the burden of being outside the prison any longer. I am freer here!"
To read the news in full, please visit:
http://www.bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/135305-prisoners-gazette-published-with-enlarged-staff
Against the police stations of minds: Ismail Besikci Foundation![1]
Author: Banu Guven; translated by GIT - North America
[Before the elections of 2011, Banu Güven had wanted to conduct an interview with BDP's Leyla Zana; and before she could, she had to part her way controversially from the TV channel NTV. To see her interviews and read her pieces, please visit: www.banuguven.com
[Before the elections of 2011, Banu Güven had wanted to conduct an interview with BDP's Leyla Zana; and before she could, she had to part her way controversially from the TV channel NTV. To see her interviews and read her pieces, please visit: www.banuguven.com
To visit some of GIT - North America's references to and earlier coverage of Ismail Besikci, please see:
The name Ismail Besikci means a lot to this country. His life best describes what academic freedom actually means and what happens if we insist on an absolute existence of such freedom. Being a ‘Turk’ and born in Çorum, Ismail Besikci came across the Kurds when he was a sociology student. He conducted his sociological inquiry on the Alikan Tribe (Aşiret) when he was student. For him a scientist’s duty is to observe and report the truth, therefore he never denied the truth despite all the pressures throughout his life. The result of this attitude: he was dispelled from the university and spent 17 years and 2 months in prison. All his books, some never published, were confiscated. His work was denied to a whole generation. During the days of advanced democracy in our country, he was sentenced again because a journal, which printed his speech, spelled the word “Kandil” with ‘Q.’[2] He was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison. Currently, this charge is under review in higher court. I asked Besikci, during our interview in autumn, ‘what will happen if the charge is ratified?’ Despite what he suffered throughout his life, he smiled and said “in that case I might be imprisoned again”. During our talk Ismail Besikci also told me about the work concerning the establishment of the Ismail Besikci Foundation and its library.
Besikci Hoca[3] was notified just two days before his birthday on January 7th that the foundation bearing his name was officially established. This place will be an oasis for the generations who were kept away from scientific endeavor due to fear of truth. Hoca’s archive, all the books, journals, newspaper, letters, photos, his trial documents, and his own notes as he accumulated throughout his 60 years of carrier will be accessible for students, academicians and everyone else. We will be able to access Besikci’s forbidden and confiscated books in this library.
We will also be able to read about the Dersim issue, which has recently become leverage in the hands of government against the opposition, as well as CHP’s[4] policies. These topics are treated in several of his books: Bilim Yöntemi Serisi (Scientific Method Series), a book which was brought up in court many trials; Kürtlerin Mecburi İskanı (The Forced Settlement of Kurds), Tunceli Kanunu (Tunceli Law), Muğlalı Olayı (Muğlalı Case). Very likely Besikci watched with a bitter smile the insincere “apologies upon necessity” and the “when the right time comes” speeches which accompany the usual documents of those who paid no attention to this issue so far.
In our last year’s correspondence, I asked him “why don’t we see new editions of your books?” Hoca replied:
‘During the 1970s and 1980s they used to put the books and essays on trial according to the 141-142 articles of the old criminal law. In the 1990s, they began trying and confiscating books according to 8th article of Anti-Terror Law. This article was repealed in 2003 due to the legal work on the harmonization of Turkish and European Union law. Upon this development, our lawyer applied to State Security Court (DGM) to rescind the confiscations on the books. Ankara DGM disapproved our application. The court said “independently from the repeal of the 8th article, it is very likely that these books violate other laws or articles of our criminal code.” No doubt, this decision was not legal, it was arbitrary. At least the confiscation decrees should have been repealed. After this decision, if the publisher publishes and disseminates these books again, then a new process of trials will have to take effect in accordance with those mentioned other laws and articles. İstanbul State Security Court’s attitude towards this issue was much more positive. Basically, it was State Security Court in Ankara that put the books to trial. The decision of Ankara State Security Court was irreversible. Upon this decision, Unsal Ozturk, the owner of Yurt Kitap-Yayin Publishing House applied to the European Court of Human Rights. This trial had its own interesting peripety. But in the end Turkey was found guilty. Upon my lawyer’s applications, courts gave various decisions in various times. There were cases when court decisions contradicted among themselves. It went so far as in some cases the same court contradicted itself. It is very difficult to discern which books are forbidden which have no charge. However, after European Court of Human Rights’ decision we may say that they are all free of charge. Or at least it is reasonable to hope so.’
Actually this story shows very clearly that the word reform and the like are only pretexts for the continuation of the same old punitive mentality in this country. Hoca’s interpretation of his 1 year 3 months imprisonment decree is as follows:
“… on the 4th of March 2011, the 11th High Penal Court of Istanbul decided on this sentence based on the 7/2 article of the Anti-Terror Law. This means the 8th article of the Anti-Terror Law is still de facto effective.”
Today, many sentences are direct reflections of this mentality. Under these circumstances, the opening of Besikci Foundation is very important. It creates optimism.
The foundation invites everyone willing to volunteer and support the greater projects which will carry the work of Ismail Besikci further. I guess the best birthday gift for a man of science, who devoted all his life to truth and paid for it by being ousted from the system, would be our support for the freedom of expression. This newly established foundation constitutes a fresh venue for our freedom of expression.
Some of you might ask about the address. It is below:
E-mail adres: ismailbesikcilibrary@gmail.com
Address:
İsmail Beşikci Vakfı
Kuloğlu Mah. Ayhan Işık Sok. No: 21/1
Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkiye
İsmail Beşikci Vakfı
Kuloğlu Mah. Ayhan Işık Sok. No: 21/1
Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkiye
Telephone: +90 212 245 81 43
Happy free years Ismail Besikci!
[2] Kandil literally means ‘candle’ but it is also the name of a mountain range near the Turkey-Iraq-Iran tripoint, where the armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is known to be based. It is spelled with ‘K’ in Turkish and ‘Q’ in Kurdish. Turkish alphabet does not contain Q. (Translator’s note).
[3] Respected academicians are often called “Hoca” in Turkish (Translator’s note).
[4] Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Republican’s People Party), The governing party during one party regime and also considered responsible for the Dersim massacre (translator’s note).
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