Think, think Freedom of Expression Weekly Bulletin (Issue 17/17, 28 April 2017) What happened last week?

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1 Think, think Freedom of Expression Weekly Bulletin (Issue 17/17, 28 April 2017) What happened last week? *** arliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (ACE) has decided to reopen the political monitoring process against Turkey, which previously ended in Entering a political monitoring process once again after 13 years, Turkey has been the first country against which the process has been reopened following membership negotiations. Erdoğan has evaluated the decision as completely political and stated that they don t recognize it. (Continued in the bulletin...) *** Turkish Armed Forces has organized an airstrike on Karaçok Mountain in Rojava, as well as the Shengal Mountain region in Federal Kurdistan. Sinjar is a second Qandil for us; we will not allow this, stated Erdoğan, indicating that the operations will continue. *** The Council of State has denied the revocation of the Higher Electoral Council (YSK) decision regarding the counting unsealed ballots. YSK has announced the definitive results of the referendum. Justice and Developemnt arty (AK) has announced that resident Erdoğan will be a party member following the referendum, deciding for an extraordinary congress on the 21st of May. Republican eople s arty (CH) has made an application at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), objecting against the referendum results. *** Operations and arrests continue after the Constitutional amendment referendum. The Initiative for Freedom of Expression has reported the rights violations, oppressions and unlawful applications during the Constitutional amendment referendum held within the State of Emergency. The report contains a map which chronologically shows the incidents during the process; allowing the interactive tracking of oppressions and violations in different parts of Turkey between the months of January and April (Continued in the bulletin...) *** Verdicts of release have been issued for eople s Democratic arty (HD) Diyarbakır M Nursel Aydoğan, HD Adana M Meral Danış Beştaş and HD Hakkari M Nihat Akdoğan. The number of imprisonmed Ms has decreased to 10. *** Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched the 2017 World ress Freedom Index. According to the Index, Turkey has regressed four more steps compared to the previous year due to the shutdown of tens of more publications with the State of Emergency. Now ranked 155th among 180 countries, Turkey has recorded a fall of 56 steps in the last 12 years. (Continued in the bulletin...) *** Confederation of rogressive Trade Unions (DISK) ress-labour has prepared the 2016 Almanac for press in Turkey by compiling the reports launched every month regarding the pressure against journalists. (Continued in the bulletin...)

2 *** Another indictment has been prepared in the main case file of the murder of Agos Newspaper s Editor-In-Chief Hrant Dink. The indictment states Fethullah Gülen, Zekeriya Öz and Ekrem Dumanlı as defendants of the case, indicating that the murder has been planned and executed by the Intelligence Offices of Trabzon and Istanbul Gendarmerie. *** 1009 Security members have been taken into custody within the FETÖ investigation. 9,013 police officers have been suspended due to a connection with FETÖ. *** The government did not permit the celebration of the 1st of May on Taksim Square. The unions have decided to hold the celebrations in Bakırköy ACE reopens monitoring process against Turkey arliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (ACE) has decided to reopen the political monitoring process against Turkey, which previously ended in A voting has been held in the session with the issue, The functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey during which 113 voted in favor, 45 voted against and 12 abstained from voting. The decision indicated that Turkey can no longer meet the obligations posed by its Council of Europe membership, in the areas of democracy, human rights and the supremacy of law. The resolution has also indicated that measures taken within the scope of the State of Emergency have been disproportionate. Entering a political monitoring process once again after 13 years, Turkey has been the first country against which the process has been reopened following membership negotiations.

3 Turkey regresses four steps in ress Freedom Index ranking Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched the 2017 World ress Freedom Index. According to the Index, Turkey has regressed four more steps compared to the previous year due to the shutdown of tens of more publications with the State of Emergency. Now ranked 155th among 180 countries, Turkey has recorded a fall of 56 steps in the last 12 years. In the announcement made by RSF, Turkey has been described as one of the scariest countries with the emphasis that Turkey has become the largest journalist prison in the world with more than 100 jailed journalists. The Index contains five categories and Turkey has been placed within the category of the countries where it is hardest to perform journalism, just like last year. However, with the regression of this year, Turkey has only four more steps from being one of the countries in the Blacklisted countries. lease click here for the ress Freedom Index by RSF. Initiative for Freedom of Expression reports violations during referendum The Initiative for Freedom of Expression has reported the rights violations, oppressions and unlawful applications during the Constitutional amendment referendum held within the State of Emergency. The study has been prepared with the data compiled from the reports obtained from press as well as others launched by NGOs tracking the process. The report contains a map which chronologically shows the incidents during the process; allowing the interactive tracking of oppressions and violations in different parts of Turkey between the months of January and April lease click here for the full report.

4 Ayşe Çelik sentenced to imprisonment after claim Don t let children die Bakırköy 2nd High Criminal Court has sentenced teacher Ayşe Çelik to 1 year and three months of imprisonment due to terrorist organization propaganda. Çelik had connected to Beyaz Show on Channel D via phone call during the period of curfews and said, Don t let children die. The sentence has not been deferred. The court has issued a verdict of release for 38 disobedient civilians, who had denounced themselves by indicating their support for the statements of Çelik. In their common defense statements, the disobedient civilians have reacted against the penalty against Çelik and their release by stating, Neither Ayşe Çelik, nor us are on trial in this case; a peace demand and the truth is on trial. Humanity and conscientious sensitivity can not be punished. We have protected the cry of Ayşe Çelik, we have joined the voice of the truth. This voice can not be a crime. As I thank all scientists, politicians, intellectuals, artists and lawyers who protected and supported by expressions by believing in my innocence; I repeat my words, which I still think is a contemporary cry: Don t remain silent. Approach to things with a little more sensitivity, as human beings. See things, hear things and reach out a hand. It s a pity; don t let people die, don t let children die, don t let mothers cry, stated Çelik, in her defense at the court.

5 Imprisonment sentence against doctor treating injuries during curfew Human rights activist and medical doctor Serdar Küni has been sentenced to 4 years and two months of imprisonment in the second hearing of the case against him, in which he was charged with treating illegal organization members who were injured during the operations and curfews in Cizre. Şırnak 2nd High Criminal Court has asserted that the doctor has aided the illegal organization, releasing Küni after 6 months of arrest following the issue of the imprisonment sentence. The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) has announced that the appeal evaluation of the file of Küni will be made by Gaziantep Court of Appeals within two months. Referendum protests: Seven arrested in Izmir eople have been detained last Monday in Izmir while protesting the referendum results. Five of those detained have been arrested due to insulting the resident and two have been arrested due to violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No Journalist and documentary maker Kazım Kızıl is among the ones arrested. 14 people, including journalist Anıl Deveci, have been released with a condition of judicial control. In the verdict of arrest, the Criminal Judicature of eace on Duty has indicated that the suspects have previously participated to other protests, that they continued their actions despite the State of Emergency and thus the court has used its authority of precautionary measure.

6 2016 press almanac by DISK ress-labour Confederation of rogressive Trade Unions (DISK) ress-labour has prepared the 2016 almanac for press in Turkey by compiling the reports launched every month regarding the pressure against journalists. Indicating that there are violations against press freedom and freedom of expression almost every day, the union has stated, The history of press in this country is, unfortunately, full of killed and jailed journalists as well as shut-down/banned periodicals. However, Turkey has never seen a period in which media organizations were pressured to this extent. lease click here for the 2016 ress Almanac. 17 journalists arrested, 82 journalists detained within four months Free Journalists Initiative has announced that 17 journalists were arrested in the first four months of Indicating that 166 journalists are still in prison, the Initiative has announced 82 journalists detained, investigations opened against 35 journalists, 9 journalists attacked, lawsuits opened against 6 journalists, 30 journalists penalized and two TV channels shut down within the first four months of 2017.

7 Two-year imprisonment claim against Can Dündar An indictment has been prepared against journalist Can Dündar with an imprisonment claim up to two years due to public denigration of the Turkish nation, the government of the Republic of Turkey and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The indictment, prepared by Istanbul Anatolian Chief ublic rosecutor s Office and sent to the Criminal Court of First Instance, Dündar is charged due to his Twitter posts. He is also indicated to have five different warrants against him within different investigations and lawsuits. eace activist Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı arrested eace activist and conscientious objector Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı has been arrested after being taken into custody due to the warrant against him. Charged with insulting the resident, inciting people to disobey the law and making illegal organization propaganda, Yaylalı had been taken into custody on the anniversary of the Roboski Massacre and later been released. Following the objection of the rosecutor s Office, Şırnak Criminal Court of eace had decided for the arrest of Yaylalı. Yaylalı moved to Uludere, Şırnak after the aircraft bombing of Ortasu/Roboski and Gülyazı/Bujeh villages to how solidarity with the families of the 34 dead citizens.

8 olice attack against press statement of Furkan Foundation The press statement to be made by Furkan Foundation members in Adana has been prevented by the police due to lack of permission. The police have forcefully intervened the event. Following the incident, the Foundation has launched a statement, announcing that they have been exposed to various restrictions for the past three years. The Foundation has indicated that the event to be organized in Adana, with the topic, rophet Muhammad as a Model Human, has been cancelled by the Governorate. Following the cancellation, the press statement they wanted to make has been prevented as well. The Foundation has announced that 100 of their members are in custody and tens of members are hospitalized after the intervention, saying, It requires a different kind of bravery to stand beside the rightful and the oppressed, these days We will never surrender to tyranny! THIS WEEK ON THE MUSEUM OF CRIMES OF THOUGHT Stay tuned Follow the agenda in the most entertaining way with our regularly updated museum A

9 olitics under the state of emergency arliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (ACE) has decided to reopen the monitoring process against Turkey, after 13 years. Legislators representing Europe's top human rights body on Tuesday voted in favor of re-opening monitoring procedures in Turkey in a move that reflects its strong concern over the functioning of democratic institutions in the country. The decision in the Strasbourg-based arliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was approved on a vote of after a nearly three-hour debate. Freedom of Expression Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published World ress Freedom Index. According to the index Turkey has fallen back four steps compared to last years, with the closure of tens of media outlets and imprisonment of journalists due to state of emergency and is listed as 155th in the world. Thus Turkey fell back 56 steps in 12 years. Of those detained during the "No" protests of April 17 in İzmir, videoactivist Kazım Kızıl and 7 students were arrested.

10 Syria Turkish Armed Forces announced its air attack on two regions in Iraq and Syria at around 2.00 on April 25. KD announced that its own forces were hit by mistake. Salih Muslim addressed the international forces and said "do not remain silent". TRIALS OF FREEDOM OF EXRESSION In the hearing on 26 April 2017, Bakırköy 2nd High Criminal Court has sentenced Ayşe Çelik to 1 year and three months of imprisonment and acquitted the disobedient civilians partaking in her crime. The sentence was not deferred. The hearing of Ahmet Şık has been held on 26 April 2017 at Silivri 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. Şık is charged with insult due to his expressions as he left Silivri rison. The hearing has been postponed to 21 September TRIALS OF NEXT WEEK There will be no hearings next week regarding the case files we are tracking.