Freedom of expression

Press freedom in Turkey has been improved via the adoption of a new Press Law. But according to the European Commission, the frequency of prosecutions against journalists is still a cause of concern. (EC 2004a, 17.)

I could see, even during a short visit, that journalists face the same problems and restrictions as earlier. Also journalists of large Turkish newspapers have these problems if they write about the Kurdish question, and not only in Kurdish newspapers. For example, the journalist Sebati Karakurt's article about Kongra-Gel was published in Hürriyet 17.10.2004. Karakurt had travelled to North-Irak, to the Kandil mountains and conducted an interview with Kongra Gel. This article caused a storm in Turkey and Karakurt was arrested the day after his article was published. Police wanted to know how he had travelled to Kandil. Karakurt explained that he had crossed the boarder in Habur and then taken a taxi and told the driver to take him to Kandil. This explanation was accepted, and police released Karakurt. Now it is up to the prosecutor whether this case will go to the court.

For Kurdish newspapers (for example Ülkede Özgür Gündem and Azadiya Welat) and the newsagency DIHA (Dicle Haber Ajansi), such problems are part of everyday life. Journalist Vedat Kursun from DIHA was arrested in Hakkari 22.9.2004 when he tried to get information about the Turkish army operation against Kongra Gel taking place near Hakkari. When I left Turkey 10.11.2004, he was still in a Hakkari prison. Police confiscated Kursun's camera.

A journalist who works in Ülkede Özgür Gündem was arrested in Van 25.10.2004 when he observed a public meeting which demanded the release of Abdullah Öcalan.
Police threatened Kurdish journalist Ubeydullah Hakan in Van 3.9.2004 that he will be killed. Hakan has tried, with his lawyers, to bring this case to the court, but byl the end of October, the court in Van had not appropriately handled his claim. Hakan has had difficulties with police earlier when he has taken pictures in Van.

Resat Ok, a journalist working for DIHA, was arrested in Silopi 27.10.2004 when he wanted to travel to North Irak. DIHA journalists both in Van and Diyarbakir told that police treat them like suspects all the time and impose restrictions on their work. Journalists from other news agencies do not have restrictions to cross the border to Iraq, but for DIHA staff it is always difficult.

Broadcasting in the Kurdish language is now permitted and broadcasts have started but on a restricted scale (EC 2004a, 12-13).

Turkey has announced to the European Commission that measures have been taken to end the systematic recording of all meetings and demonstrations and to prevent and punish the disproportionate use of force by security forces (EC 2004a, 18.)