Government urged to conform to European Court’s rulings on Freedom of expression

Turkey26 July 2006

As Turkey often violates freedom of expression, Reporters Without
Borders today hailed yesterday’s ruling by the European Court of
Human Rights that it breached article 10 of the European Convention
on Human Rights, concerning free expression, by prosecuting the editor
and owner of a pro-Kurdish daily.

The court ruled that Turkey should not have convicted the journalists
for an article in 2000 about the trial of Abdullah Ocalan, leader
of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK-Kongral Gel), or for
publishing a letter he wrote, as they "did not exhort the use of
violence or incite armed resistance or rebellion,"

Reporters Without Borders said: "The court’s decision highlights
the difficulties journalists face in Turkey. They cannot discuss the
Kurdish issue freely without being accused of collaborating with the
PKK-Kongral Gel armed separatists. The Turkish government does not
tolerate criticism and has just adopted a new anti-terrorism law that
will considerably broaden the sanctions against the press."

The organisation added: "Turkey must find a compromise between its
security concerns and the need to respect press freedom by referring
to European Court of Human Rights case law."

The two journalists are Cihan Capan, the editor of the pro-Kurdish
daily Ozgur Bakis, and Halis Dogan, its owner. Both were fined in
2000. Capan also received a 13-month prison sentenced which he has
never served. Several issues of the newspaper were seized in the
course of 2000 and the newspaper was also ordered to pay heavy fines
under different laws including the anti-terrorism law.

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday ordered Turkey to pay
Capan and Dogan 5,000 and 7,000 euros respectively in compensation.

Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press
freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections
(Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden
and Switzerland). It has representatives in Bangkok, London, New
York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents
worldwide.

© Reporters Without Borders 2006

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