TURKRAN May Newsletter

7/30/2019 TURKRAN May Newsletter

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Turkey Regional Action NetworkMay 2013

1) AIUSA Blog articles on Turkey

State Department Report on HumanRights in Turkey

by Howard EissenstatApril 21, 2013The U.S. Department of State has released

its annual country report on Human Rights

in Turkey, outlining some areas of

improvement and drawing attention to some

major deficiencies in Turkeys record over

the past year. Continue reading the article

at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/21/stat

e-department-report-on-human-rights-in-

turkey/

An update on the Emek TheatreProtestsby Howard Eissenstat

April 21, 2013

Update on the incidence in which police

officers used excessive force against the

peaceful protesters at the forced closure of

the Emek Theatre in Istanbul. Continue

reading the article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/21/an-

update-on-the-emek-theatre-protests/

Two Minutes to Fight for Freedom in

Turkeyby Howard Eissenstat

April 25, 2013

Turkish authorities continue to attack

individuals including elderly grandmother

who has been calling for peace between

Turks and Kurds, and students, publishers,

scholars, and lawyers for peacefully

expressing their ideas. It is urgent that we

lend our voices to the call for freedom ofexpression in Turkey as Prime Minister

Erdoans planned visit to the Washington

in mid-May. Continue reading the article at:http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/03/17/turkeys-war-on-its-intellectuals/

Project on Middle East Democracypanel discusses eroding freedoms in

Turkeyby Howard Eissenstat

April 28, 2013

A round-table discussion on Turkey at the

Project on Middle East Democracy

(POMED) argued for greater attention to

Turkeys human rights record and voiced

the hope that the Obama administration will

capitalize on its warm relations with the

Erdoan government to push for serious

reform. Continue reading the article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/28/project-on-middle-east-panel-discusses-eroding-freedoms-in-turkey/

The Plight of Turkeys SyrianRefugeesby William Jones

April 30, 2013

While Amnesty International recognizes the

considerable effort that Turkish authorities

have made to accommodate the increasing


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number of Syrian refugees, it also calls

upon the international community to step up

its support to ease the burden this crisis

places on Turkey and other nations

bordering Syria. Continue reading the article

at:http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/30/the-plight-of-turkeys-syrian-refugees/

"Amnesty: Fourth Judicial PackageAnother Missed Opportunityby Howard Eissenstat

May 1, 2013

The recent judicial reform package still

gives room for the Turkish authorities to

constrain freedom of expression in Turkey

and arbitrary prosecute and force more

political activists, journalists and humanrights defenders to face jail sentences for

carrying out their work. Continue reading

the article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/05/01/amnesty-fourth-judicial-package-another-missed-opportunity/

Freedom House Annual Report:Another bad year for freedom of thepress in Turkey

by Howard EissenstatMay 2, 2013

According to Freedom Houses Annual

Report on Freedom of the Press 2013, this

year, yet again, Turkey came away with less

than passing marks. Continue reading the

article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/05/02/freedom-house-annual-report-another-bad-year-for-freedom-of-the-press-in-turkey/

Amnesty on the May Day Violence in

Turkey: Denial of right to peacefulprotest and excessive use of forceby Howard EissenstatMay 3, 2013Yet again, overwhelming force, includingwater cannon and tear gas, was usedagainst peaceful demonstrators during theMay Day celebration. Continue reading the

article at:http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/05/03/amnesty-on-the-may-day-violence-in-turkey-denial-of-right-to-peaceful-protest-and-excessive-use-of-force-by-police/

Violence against Women: SomeDisturbing Recent Numbersby Howard Eissenstat

May 6, 2013

A recent study by a Turkish NGO and

Krkkale University found that more than a

third of male survey respondents stated that

violence was sometimes necessary. 28%

believe that violence can be used to

discipline women, while 23.4% believe it

acceptable, if the woman provokes it.

Continue reading the article at:http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/05/06/womens-violence-some-disturbing-recent-numbers/

More on Turkey and World PressFreedom Dayby Howard Eissenstat

May 7, 2013

Amnesty International-Turkey organized

protests for World Press Freedom Day (May

3rd) in downtown Istanbul, featuring activists

wearing tape over their mouths and marked

with the most offensive legal restrictions on

freedom of expression. Continue reading

the article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/05/07/more-of-turkey-and-world-press-freedom-day/

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2) URGENT ACTIONS on Freedomof Expression in Turkey

a) Join PENs Campaign!!

As Howard Eissenstat notes in his blog,PEN American has named Aye Berktay, asthe recipient of its 2013 PEN/Barbara

Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. Aye

Berktay, a translator, writer, and activist in

Turkey, is a member of the pro-Kurdish

Party for Peace and Democracy (BDP) who

has been detained since September 2011

and is currently being tried for membership

in an illegal organization for her pro-

Kurdish cultural advocacy. Her hearing will

be held on May 27, and if she is convicted,

she could face up to 15 years in prison.

PEN has also initiated a campaign to

protest the continued imprisonment of

journalists, academics, and writers,

including Aye Berktay, who have been

persecuted for exercising their right to

freedom of expression.

We, AIUSA TURKRAN, encourage you to

join PENs initiative and add your voice tothe chorus calling for freedom of expressionin Turkey. Also, please do not forget to ask

your friends and family to sign the petition,

share the campaign on facebook, twitter,

and other social media!Your individualvoices through the petition and social mediaactions all play an important role in keepingpressure on the Turkish government.

To join PENs campaign, please go to:http://ifex.org/turkey/2013/05/06/free_ayse_petition/ - .UZFPrNkRYwM.facebook

b) Amnestys campaign to end thecriminalization of dissent in Turkey

Amnesty has now updated its petitioncalling for the decriminalization of dissent inTurkey in light of the Fourth Judicial

Package.

In English:http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519516

In Turkish:http://www.buyasaylaolmaz.org/

If you are active on Twitter, please follow

us and re-tweet usAIUSA TURKRAN@AIUSA_TURKRAN.

Here is a suggested tweet:.@RT_Erdogan Remove unfair restrictionsto #freedomofexpression in#newconstitution #Turkey

Readings:

Amnesty International report: "Turkey:Decriminalize Dissent: Time to Deliver on the

Right to Freedom of Expression" (Available inEnglish and Turkish)http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR44/001/2013/en

A brief version of the report:http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/turkey-time-remove-shackles-freedom-2013-03-27

Human Rights Watch World Report 2012:

Turkey:http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-turkey

To read aboutAye Berktay, please go to:http://www.pen.org/press-release/2013/04/15/top-pen-prize-honor-jailed-turkish-translator-aye-berktay

Turkey peace talks positive; press freedom still

in perilCommittee to Protect Journalists:http://www.cpj.org/blog/2013/04/turkey-peace-talks-positive-but-press-freedom-stil.php


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c) Letter Writing Campaign forSultani Acbuca

Sultani Acbuca is a 64-year-oldgrandmother who was convicted of being amember of a terrorist organization forattending six peaceful demonstrations inIzmir between 2006 and 2008 and for aspeech where she called for peace and anend to the conflict between the PKK and theTurkish military. This is another typical casein which Turkish authorities have long beenabusing Turkeys vague anti-terrorismlegislation to justify the prosecution ofthousands of people who speak for thebasic issues of human rights and peace.

The prosecution against Sultani Acbuca wasinitiated in 2008. The indictment lists thefollowing charges:

being a member of a terroristorganization (Article 314 of the PenalCode);

making propaganda for a terroristorganization (Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law); and

praising a crime or a criminal, (Article215 of the Penal Code).

The prosecution relied on evidence thatSultani Acbuca was part of a group thatshouted slogans that have been found bythe European Court of Human Rights to fallwithin the permissible limits of the right tofreedom of expression. They include longlive peace, long live calan (theimprisoned leader of the banned pro-Kurdish armed organization PKK (KurdistanWorkers Party) and Women want peace,not to fight.

Additionally, prosecutors have argued thatSultani Acbuca praised criminal activitieswhen she called for Turkish and Kurdishmothers, who lost their children in thearmed struggle between the PKK and theTurkish army, to unite and call for peace.She also called on Prime Minister Erdoan to

send his son to the army, saying poorfamilies send their sons to the army, wedont fight with them.

Sultani Acbuca was ultimately onlyconvicted of membership of a terrorist

organization for which she was sentencedto six years and three months in prison. Thecourt reached its decision to convict SultaniAcbuca for membership of a terroristorganization on the basis that: she was a member of the peace

mothers, a group the court said without reference to anysubstantiating evidence - wasdeveloped by the PKK with theintention of making propaganda;

she carried out activities for this groupin the province of Izmir;

she played an active role in thesedemonstrations and shouted slogans;

she made the above described speechwhich amounted to terroristpropaganda; and

she called out the slogans for otherson the demonstration to repeat

As of April 2013 the case remains pendingat the Supreme Court of Appeals. Sultani

Acbuca is currently not in pre-trialdetention.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELYtothe Turkish Authorities

That the Supreme Court of AppealsSultani Acbucas conviction for simplymaking a speech protected by the rightto freedom of expression must be

overturned at as soon as possible. Whilst there have been some reforms in

the Penal Code and Anti-Terrorismlegislation, these changes do notprovide sufficient protection againstunfair prosecutions such as the oneagainst Sultani Acbuca; in particular,the definition of terrorism in the Anti-


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Terrorism Law does not comply with therecommended permissible limitations asoutlined in the 2012 report by theSpecial Rapporteuron the promotionand protection of human rights andfundamental freedoms while countering

terrorism. Related articles like Article314 on membership are subsequentlywide open to judicial abuse.

Amnesty Internationalsrecommendations for the authoritiesincluding amending the definition ofterrorism and related provisions formembership such as Article 314, therepeal of Article 215 of the Penal Codepraising a crime of a criminal andfurther amendment of Article 7/2 of the

Anti-Terrorism Law making propagandafor a terrorist organization to solelycriminalize incitement to violence wouldgo some way in improving theprotection of the right to freedom ofexpression;

If Sultani Acbuca will be imprisoned onthe basis of the evidence that has beenpresented, Amnesty International wouldconsider her to be a prisoner ofconscience and campaign for herimmediate release.

Please send a letter to:

Mr Sadullah Ergin

Minister of Justice06669 KizilayAnkaraTurkey

Cc: Ambassador Namik Tan

Embassy, Republic of Turkey2525 Massachusetts Ave., NWWashington, DC 20008

Solidarity Action

Many individuals benefit from receivingletters of support directly from activists. Sowe also encourage you to join solidarityaction by writing to Sultani Acbuca.

Suggested Message:

Dear Sultani AcbucaI have written to the authorities in Turkeyto protest your conviction and sentence forsix years and three months. I hope that theSupreme Court of Appeals overturns thisunfair conviction and lifts this burden off ofyour shoulders. I have also called on themto change the law (definition of terrorism

and related articles) to that others do notgo through what you have been through.With my regards

Sevgili Sultani AcbucaYaptgnz konusmalar nedeniyle aldgnz altyl aylk cezay protesto etmek iinTrkiye yetkililerine mektup yazdm. UmarmYargtay karar bu haksz cezay bozar vezerinizdeki bu yk kalkar.Onlara, sizing yasadklarnz baskalar dayasamasn diye, ncelikle terrizmin tanmve iliskili yasalar olmak zere yasalardegistirmeleri agrsnda bulundumSevgiler ve sayglarmla

Please send a letter to:

Sultani AcbucaRafet Paa Mahallesi 5157 Sokak No:2Kat:2 Daire :3 amdibi / zmirTurkey

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3) Amnesty International Briefing

Turkey: National Authorities andthe International Community Must

Act in Partnership to Meet the

Needs of Syrian Refugees

EUR 44/009/2013

April 25, 2013

More than 1.3 million refugees from Syria

having fled to other countries, in particular

Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. This

briefing highlights concerns regarding the

situation of refugees from Syria, particularly

in Turkey, as part of its ongoing

campaigning in relation to policies and

practices relating to refugees in the country.

To read the full press release, please go to:http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR44/009/2013/en

Turkey:Istanbul May Day Celebrations:

Denial of Right to Peaceful Protest andExcessive Use of Force by Police

EUR 44/010/2013May 3, 2013Amnesty International is concerned aboutlaw enforcement authorities attempt toprevent a May Day celebration and their useof excessive force against peacefuldemonstrators.

Amnesty International received reportsregarding scores of injuries including a 17-year old girl who was in a coma for 24hours after being hit by a tear gas canister

fired by police.

Amnesty International calls on theauthorities to end the routine use ofexcessive force at demonstrations and toconduct investigations in the aftermath.

To read the full press release, please go to:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EU

R44/010/2013/en/f3ace455-070e-4764-

8a17-2ffee49f08bf/eur440102013en.html

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4) Amnesty International News

Turkey: Legal Reforms Fall Short onFreedom of Expression

April 30, 2013Amnesty International believes the Fourthjudicial package, a reform bill that wasconfirmed by Turkeys President and passedinto law, will allow abusive prosecutions tocontinue, forcing still more political activists,journalists and human rights defenders toface jail sentences for carrying out theirwork.

Yet again Turkey missed an opportunity tomeet the governments stated aim ofbringing Turkish laws into line withinternational human rights standards,

including European Court of Human Rightscase law on the right to freedom ofexpression.

To read the full news article, please go to:http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/turkey-legal-reforms-fall-short-freedom-expression-2013-04-30

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5) Amnesty International PublicStatement

Turkey: Twin Car Bombings inSyrian Border District Condemned

EUR 44/011/2013May 13, 2013Amnesty International condemnsunreservedly the 11 May bomb attacks inReyhanl, Hatay province which have leftsome 50 people dead and more than 100injured. They city of Reyhanl is close to oneof the main crossing points between theTurkey and Syria and hosts a large numberof Syrian refugees.

Amnesty International calls on the Turkishauthorities to conduct a thorough andimpartial investigation, to take all possiblemeasures to ensure the safety and securityof Syrian refugees, and to bring thoseresponsible to justice.

To read the full public release, please go to:http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR44/011/2013/en/37e82170-6363-4038-92f5-842c17a7e3b9/eur440112013en.html

Turkey: Right to Conscientious

Objection Still Not Guaranteed inEurope

EUR 01/012/2013May 14, 2013Today, May 15th, is InternationalConscientious Objectors Day. AmnestyInternational has released a solidarity

message that urges Turkey, along withAzerbaijan and Armenia, to recognize theright to conscientious objection to militaryservice immediately.

Turkey has not honored the rulings of theEuropean Court of Human Rights (ECtHR),which require the authorities to prevent therepeated prosecution and imprisonment of

conscientious objectors for their refusal toperform military performance.

To read the full public release, please go to:http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR01/012/2013/en/ba29d2d9-a6d0-48ff-

af99-b6ec0307bba7/eur010122013en.html

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If you are interested in the issue of

Human Rights in Turkey and willing toparticipate in Amnestys Turkey-relatedactions, consider joining us on ourTurkey Regional Action Network on:

Human Rights in Turkey Website at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/

Facebook at: Amnesty InternationalUSA Turkey Regional Action Network

Twitter@AIUSA_TURKRAN.

We hope you will visit often and would

be grateful if you would help spread theword about this new resource to yourfriends and colleagues.

If you have any questions, or would liketo have someone else receive themonthly newsletter, please contactAIUSA TURKRAN coordinator: Natsumi

Ajiki at [email protected].

TURKRAN May Newsletter

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