90 Trials for 192 Editions of Daily Gundem

Irfan Ucar, the editor-in-chief of the Ulkede Ozgur Gundem (Free Agenda in the Country) newspaper said a total of 90 cases had been brought against the Free Agenda newspaper for 192 editions.

Journalist Ucar said 15 cases, based on articles 159 and 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) were being heard at an Istanbul Court. He added that 12 new cases against the newspaper had been brought at the specialty courts established to replace the State Security Courts.

The fact that article 169 of the TCK, which has been used to charge the newspaper with "aiding a terrorist organization," can no longer be used against the media, and the fact that article 8 of the anti-terrorism law (TMY) which was about "separatism" has been annulled, through reforms, has not reduced the number of cases brought against the newspaper, said Ucar.

He said cases were still brought against Free Agenda for charges of "disseminating propaganda about a terrorist organization," (TMY 7/2) and "publishing announcements by a terrorist organization" (TMY 6/2) although they are not a crime, he argued.

Ucar said announcements by the Kurdish rebel group Kongra-Gel are increasingly charged as being "propaganda." "Thirteen trials are still based on TMY 7/2, 31 on TMY 6/2, and 31 trials are based on both," he said.

Ucar said the European Court of Human Rights guarantees the freedom of expressing all opinions unless they openly call for violence. "In Turkey, it is still a crime to publish announcements by a non-violent group," he added. (EO/EA/YE)