Article 302 Joins 301

Yasin Yetisgen, the owner and responsible manager of the weekly "Coban Atesi" (Shepherd's Fire) newspaper in Gaziantep, southern Turkey, is going to be tried at a Heavy Penal Court in Adana for publishing an article which contained the expression "Northern Kurdistan".

"Northern Kurdistan" 

In an article entitled "Antep and the Shepherd's Fire" published on 2 August 2007, it said: "With a population of around two million, Antep is the biggest metropole of Northern Kurdistan. ...In addition, Antep is and should be considered Northern Kurdistan's Istanbul because of its rich culture."

The newspaper issue was confiscated and Yetisgen was arrested as a "precautionary measure". An arrest warrant was also issued for writer of the article, Hursit Kasikkirmaz, who lives abroad.

Article 302 instead of Article 8 

Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, which had penalised "the spreading of separatist propaganda" had been abolished on 15 July 2003. This Article had often been used to prevent the use of the term "Kurdistan".

Now, Article 302, which deals with "damaging the state's unity and integrity", is being used, and this is the article that Yetisgen will be tried under.
The Article says:"Anyone who submits part or all of the state's territory to the sovereignty of a foreign state, who damages the state's unity, who separates part of the state territory from state administration, who commits actions which weaken the state's independence, shall be punished with a life sentence..."

The case has been transferred from the Gaziantep to the Adana Public Prosecution. It is not clear yet when Yetisgen will appear in court. (EÖ/AG)