Prime Minister Continues to Sue Journalists

Ismet Atar, the owner of "Zafer" (Victory) newspaper published in Gaziantep, the newspaper's editor-in-chief Atilla Konukoglu and columnist Halil Eyyupoglu were fined 3,000 YTL (new Turkish liras - USD 2,350) in damages for insulting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Prime Minister, who previously sued "Gunluk Evrensel" (Daily Evrensel) and "Cumhuriyet" (Republic) newspapers for publishing caricatures about him, and who lost a case against the "Sakarya" newspaper in Eskisehir, this time managed to convict the journalists of "Zafer" newspaper.

A Gaziantep court rejected a request by the journalists to postpone the case until the new Turkish Penal Code goes into effect in April. The court ruled that the defendants have to pay a fine of 3,000 liras in damages. The fine includes interest since April 14, when the article in question was published.

Eyyupoglu, in his column called "Karakalem" (Charcoal Pencil) had criticized Prime Minister Erdogan for his treatment of Rauf Denktash, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Erdogan had told Denktash, who wanted to come to Turkey and make an announcement ahead of a reunification referendum in Cyprus, to "go and say whatever he has to say in Cyprus.''

Another lawsuit for an article titled, "Kurdistan after Cyprus?" is awaiting the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which will go into effect in April 1. During the last hearing, the court had ruled to postpone the trial until June 10. The journalists face from three to eight years in prison in found guilty.

Less fines in the new TCK

In the new TCK the "insult" action is under "crimes against honor."

Under article 125 of the new TCK damaging the honor, dignity or prestige of a person is punishable by three months to two years in prison or a fine. The punishment is increased by one sixth if the insult is made openly in public, and one third if it is made through the media.(EO/EA/YE)