301 Makes No Discrimination...

The reform of article 301, the controversial law which has landed Turkish writers and academics with court cases for "denigrating Turkishness", is not being tackled by the government in this election year. Thus, it continues to target people from varied backgrounds, in this case a journalist, a prosecutor and a politician.

The trial of Osman Tiftikçi, writer of "The Evolution of the Army from the Ottoman Empire to Today", and its publisher at Sorun Publications, Sırrı Öztürk, has been postponed after a decision to summon Tiftikçi, who lives abroad.

Öztürk: Government Slackening on 301

Publisher Öztürk claims that the government has lost its drive to reform article 301, and in an evaluation for bianet said that "Just as the government has slackened on 301, so a change of 301 is not on the public agenda anymore".

When on duty in the Hazro district of Diyarbakır nine years ago, state prosecutor Mustafa Turhan was tried because a Kalashnikoff gun in safekeeping of the court was found in his home. He too is appearing in court to be tried under article 301.

Mahmut Alinak, the Kars Province President of the Kurdish interest DTP (Democratic Society Party), has been sentenced to ten months in prison for a speech made at the opening of the DTP Ardahan Province headquarters. In his speech he referred to events in Semdinli (province of Hakkari) in November 2005, when a bookshop was bombed. The bombing brought to light the involvement of the army's secret military intelligence unit (JITEM) in illegal partisan activities.

Court Waiting for Tiftikçi, Öztürk Waiting for Justice

The prosecution of writer Tiftikçi and publisher Öztürk for "degrading the army" in accordance with article 301 paragraph 2 was continued today (8 May) at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court.

After a change of lawyers for the publisher was announced, the case will be continued on 4 July 2007, 9:30 am.

Publisher Öztürk argues that the judiciary makes decisions according to the political situation and says that "as long as we criticize the legislation, [these kind of court cases are] a reality. Without a consistent democracy and efforts from the government these kinds of court cases will always turn against us. The sound of fascism's footsteps can be heard".

Tried for Saying: "I have Never Trusted Justice"

Mustafa Turhan, who was sentenced to four years imprisonment when state prosecutor in Eruzrum and who was barred from his profession by the Board of Judges and Prosecutors, is also being tried under article 301, paragraph 2. He is on trial for saying "I have never trusted Justice" last year, and possibly faces between six months and two years in prison.

10 Months for DTP Politician Alinak

DTP politician Alinak has been punished for claiming that "Şemdinli was bombed by the government's counter-guerrilla gunmen". It is argued that he "insulted the military forces and the Turkish parliament". According to news agency DIHA, Alınak, who was sentenced at Ardahan Criminal Court, will contest the sentence.

Alinak's claim that "that gunman was a government counter-guerrilla gunman, of course the regime will protect him. In the end, they have protected him and set him free". (EÖ/NZ)