Locals Debate on Media Freedom

On August 8, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the reforms.

In terms of freedom of expression, with the new changes made on article 159 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), published or broadcast criticisms of state institutions will not be penalized.

Fines lowered

The sentences envisioned by Turkish press laws are removed the fines are lowered. With the latest changes, the fines that ranged from 10 billion (USD 6100) to 250 billion USD 150000) Turkish liras are lowered to range from 1 billion (USD 600) to 100 billion (USD 60000) Turkish liras.

Bianet has asked representatives of local and regional media organizations whether they think the regulations on expression, publishing and broadcast rights are adequate, and whether they are hopeful about the implementation.

But all are angry. And they all wonder how the regulations will reflect to the courts in Turkey. The journalists, who say this will be very difficult, think that the implementations should be internalized.

Kara: "Revenge hidden in details"

There have been many cases against journalist Sinan Kara, because of the stories he has written for his local "Datca Haber" newspaper and Dogan News Agency (DHA) in Datca, western province Mugla of Turkey.

He got taken to court by mainly the Datca district official and mufti. "I have watched with hope, the steps Turkey took towards joining the EU. These reforms are like revenge hidden in details," Kara told Bianet.

Bingol: "Police has too much influence in our region"

Nevzat Bingol, one of the former owners of "Gun TV," a private television in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, has been taken to court over 10 times for broadcasting Kurdish music on his television, playing songs by Ahmet Kaya, a Kurdish singer, "preventing radio communication," and "inciting unlawfulness."

The journalist has been acquitted by court, except for two pending trials. "The local implementation of regulations, and influence of the police are important. (The influence of police) in our region is too much," Bingol argues.

"1 billion Turkish lira, which is the lowest fine according to regulations, is 2 or 3 months' of advertisement income of a local radio."

Toprak: "Mentality has to change"

Mehmet Can Toprak, the director of "Radyo Ses" radio, whose broadcasts have recently been halted twice for playing Kurdish music, says: "It is said that RTUK (radio and television supreme board) will have regulations on Kurdish music broadcasts. The limits to the regulation will characterize the broadcasts."

"The regulations are a historic turning point. But it is important to internalize them. There will be problems in implementation if regulations are not considered within the framework of basic human rights and freedom," believes Toprak.

Kucuk: "They are offering them as if they are appealing"

Selami Kucuk, one of the owners of the "Korfez Star" newspaper published in Edremit, has been in the business of publishing newspapers for the last seven years.

Many municipalities have taken him to court to make him publish a disclaimer. Kucuk, who has been acquitted in six of these trials, has been fined 10 billion Turkish liras in the last trial, in accordance with article 29 of Turkish press law.

"They are making lowering fines sound like something appealing. The lowest fine is 1 billion Turkish lira. We could only pay 250 million Turkish lira and insurance to a journalist friend who recently retired." Kucuk told bianet. (EO/NM/EA/NM)