Justice Minister Defends Terror Law
The "Draft Law to Amend the Anti-Terror Law", with the goal of boosting the powers of the country's security forces in combating terrorism, has been submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and is to be debated in Parliament.
In an exclusive interview with NTV television Ankara representative Murat Akgun, Cicek said the government's intention was to establish a balance between freedoms and security and replied to recent claims that the law would be overruled by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
"All articles of the draft are consistent with the 13 July 2001 dated European Council framework decision" he argued.
Cicek's reform a concern for journalists
Describing the amendments brought to Turkey's current Anti-Terror Law with the new draft as "a continuation of the conformity laws", Cicek said the government had consulted with the military and security forces in the preparation of the draft but did not elaborate as to whether the government had consulted with representatives of the national press and media before finalizing it.
Statements issued by the the Journalists' Association of Turkey (TGC) and the Contemporary Journalists Association (CDG) have voiced concern over the new law, primarily in light of how the present TMY has treated issues of freedoms of press and expression.
Decisions passed against Turkey by the ECHR in relation to TMY article 6/1 on "portraying officials as targets for terror organizations" , 6/2 on "publishing the statements of organizations", 7/2 on "propaganda for a terror organization" as well as article 8 on "conducting separatist propaganda" appear to support the concerns of journalists and their organizations.
TMY costs Turkey USD 245,000 at European Court
In 2005 the ECHR sentenced Turkey to a total of YTL 757,955 (USD 572,000) compensation in cases brought against her to the court by 46 people including 12 journalists. Of this amount, the country was sentenced to pay YTL 325,500 (USD 245,000) in cases involving Turkish court verdicts against journalists, authors and political party representatives tried under the current TMY.
Verdicts on Article 8 in 2005
Verdicts passed in relation to article 8 of the Anti-Terror Law in 2005 were against the following individuals:
Peoples' Democracy Party (HADEP) leader Ahmet Turan Demir, Kurdish Rights and Freedoms Foundation Secretary Yılmaz Camlıbel, Lawyer Eren Keskin, KeciOren Halkevi General Secretary Abdullah Aydın, Democracy Party (DEP) delegate Vasfiye Tulay Yuksel, DEP executives Kemal Bilget, Osman Ozcelik, Kemal Bilget, Kemal Okutan, Bahattin Gunel and Murat Bozlak, Yurt Publications House owner Unsal Ozturk, journalist Aslı Gunes, Labour Party leader Dogu Perincek, Omer Agın, author Muzaffer İlhan Erdost, Dilan Publishin House Manager Hasan Dagtekin, Leyla Zana, "Ozgur Gundem" newspaper representative Atilla Halis, HADEP former Siirt Provincial Chairman Veysel Turhan and the party's former General Secretary Hamit Geylani.
Sentences on Article 6/1 in 2005
Even in its current state, while Article 6/1 of the TMY still only carries a heavy fine sentence before the proposed amendment which will change this to three years imprisonment, Turkey has had to pay compensation at the ECHR on verdicts under this article.
In cases brought before the ECHR by Evrensel (Universal) newspaper owner Vedat Korkmaz who was sentenced in Turkey for "publishing statements of a terror organization" in articles titled "Denial from DHKC", "Agar's bloody return" and "PKK ends cease-fire", the court ruled for Ankara to pay a total of 12,500 Euro in compensation to the publisher.
TMY fined USD 5,700 in 2006
Freedom of expression cases that have increased over the past year continued into 2006 with two sentences passed at the ECHR in relation to article 8 of the Anti-Terror Law with Ankara being sentenced to pay a total of YTL 7,600 (USD 5,700) in compensation.
On March 22 the court sentenced Turkey to pay 10,064 Euro in compensation to Esitlik, Ozgurluk ve Baris icin Devrim (Revolution for Equality, Freedom and Peace) magazine owner Tayfun Koc whose freedom of expression case was a success.
On February 8, Turkey was sentenced to pay 1,600 Euro in compensation in the case of Ozgur Bakis (Free View Point) newspaper owner Halis Dogan whose chronological album titled "The Kurds from 1900 to the 2000's" was confiscated and banned from distribution. (EO/TK/II/YE)
