Oct. 5: Black Day For Freedom of Expression
While the first press freedom trial will be heard this week on September 8, eyes are focused on October 5 when eight defendants including journalist Ipek Calislar and publisher Ragip Zarakolu will face judges in press and freedom of expression trials.
Calislar and Tatlican Face "Ataturk" case
On October 5 Thursday, journalist Ipek Calislar and "Hurriyet" newspaper editor Necdet Tatlican will appear before a court on trial for the book "Latife Hanim", a biography of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's partner Latife, published by Dogan Publishing House.
Calislar, an experienced journalist of 36 years and author of the best-seller "Latife Hanim", is being charged for quoting a story from Latife's sister Vecihe where Ataturk allegedly avoids his opponents by putting on a scarf and fleeing a house while pretending to be a woman.
A reference to the anecdote in a June 4, 2006 interview with the daily Hurriyet and the story she relayed in the book brings her and Tatlican before a court on charges of insulting Atatuk under a 1951 dated "Law to Protect Ataturk". Each face a prosecutor's demand for up to 4.5 years imprisonment.
Journalist Saymaz on trial for "torture" claim
The same day Calislar and Tatlican appear before a judge, "Radikal" newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz will appear at the Bagcilar 2nd Court of First Instance for violating the country's Press Law by printing claims that a child had been tortured.
The journalist is being charged with "influencing justice" through his news report titled "Torture allegation concerning 11 year old child".
Zarakolu faces up to 13.5 years jail
The case against Belge Publshing House owner and journalist Ragip Zarakolu for publishing two books relating to Ottomon history and developments related to Armenians is also to be hear on October 5.
Zarakolu is on trial for the Turkish versions of Prof. Dr. Dora Sakayan's book "Garabed Hacheryan's Izmir Journal: An Armenian Doctor's Experiences " and George Jerjian's "The Truth Will Set Us Free: Armenians and Turks Reconciled".
In the trial to be held at the Istanbul 2nd Court of First Instance, a prosecutor demands up to 13.5 years imprisonment for the publisher.
Tempo's interview at cort
October 5 will also be the day where "Tempo" magazine reporter Enis Mazhar Tayman and editor-in-chief Neval Barlas will appear before a court in relation to an interview conducted with Diyarbakir KURD-DER spokesman and Rights and Freedoms Party (Hak-Par) former chairman Ibrahim Guclu.
However, the Bagcilar 2nd Court of First Instance is not interview Barlas in accordance with the opinion of prosecutor Omer Karacal who concluded that the author of the interview was identified. Because of this observers expect the case against Barlas to be dismissed and that against Tayman to continue.
The two newsmen and Guclu are charged with "insulting Turkism and the Republic" and "inciting people not to abide by law" through the interview published in Tempo on December 2, 2005.
Publisher Ozkan's case may be dismissed
Again the same day Evrensel Basim Yayin publishing house editor Songul Ozkan and author Ahmet Kahraman will appear before a court for Kahraman's book titled "Kurdish Rebellions".
The Beyoglu 2nd Court o First Instance had implied during the previous hearing on May 25 that as the author of the book was clearly identifiable he may not be held for the book. A decision may be taken in this case to dismiss charges against Ozkan and put Kahraman on trial individually.
New judiciary term starts with Kirandi case
The first freedom of press case to be heard in the new judiciary term will be held on September 8 with defendants of the so-called "Kirandi Case" appearing before a court.
On trial are Human Rights Association (IHD) Regional Representative Mihdi Perincek, IHD Diyarbakir Representative Selahattin Demirtas, Tunceli Mayoralty Provincial Council Ozgur Soylemez, artist Ferhat Tunc, journalist-writer Umur Hozatli and Dicle News Agency (DIHA) reporters Abdulkadir Ozbek and Rustu Demirkaya, Dogan News Agency (DHA) reporter Ferit Demir ve Anatolian Agency (AA) reporter Haydar Toprakci".
The group is charged in relation to the August 4, 2005 release of a kidnapped Turkish soldier by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and accused of "conducting propaganda of the organization and its aims" either by being there to receive Kirandi and escort him to safety or for covering the release. Each defendant on trial in the case faces up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty.
(EO/KO/II/YE)