Two Journalists Kiiled in Attacks in Iraq

In addition, the independent photographer Dimitri Tchebotayev, who was on duty as an embedded journalist in the US Army, died in an attack on the soldiers on 6 May.

The Reporters without Borders (RSF) organisation made it clear that the independent radio station Tigris had faced "a real military operation". As to Tchebotayev's case, it stated, "Whether embedded or not, this case has shown the dangers that foreign journalists face in their work of informing the public."

Double Attack on Radio Station; "Embedded" Journalist Dies

In the attack on the Tigris radio station on 3 May, the staff responded with arms they had been provided with as a security precaution. During the half-hour gunfight no one came to their assistance, despite emergency calls to the Iraqi police and army.

When the staff left the station several hours later, explosives were placed in the ground floor of the building and the office burnt down. It is suspected that the two attacks are related.

Since the receiver was damaged, the radio station was forced to halt broadcasting for at least seventy-two hours.

The journalist Dimitri Tchebotayev, who worked for Russian Newsweek, died in an attack in Diyala to the north of Bagdad, in which six US soldiers were also killed. Tchebotayev is the first foreign journalist to have died in Iraq since the beginning of 2007. (EO/NZ)

Publisher, Prosecutor, Politician....301 Does Not Discriminate

Publisher Sırrı Öztürk, on trial for publishing the book "The Evolution of the Army from the Ottoman Empire to Today", is waiting for the writer of the book Tiftikçi, who is abroad, to be arrested and give a statement. Prosecutor Turhan faces charges for saying, "I do not trust the judiciary". Alınak of the DTP party has been sentenced to ten months imprisonment.

BIA News Centre

08/05/2007 Erol Önderoğlu

BIA (Istanbul) - 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 Alınak, 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 Şemdinli (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 criticise 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 Alınak

DTP politician Alınak 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.

Alınak'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)