Zübeyde Inal, mother of a convict in Tekirdag F Type prison applied to the prosecution office complaining that her son Muhammet Inal was mistreated in prison and she could not communicate with her son through the phone since they spoke in Kurdish. Prosecution Office launched an investigation and set out to determine if the mother knew Turkish. As it was determined that Zübeyde Inal could speak Turkish too, the prosecutor dropped proceedings, stating that she was not allowed to make her phone conversations in Kurdish.
Said "How are you" in Kurdish
Another convict in the same prison, M. Fatih Bingöl was having a conversation with his family when the line was cut. Bingöl called his family and said "Hi I will speak in Kurdish they probably will cut it off. I will not call if they do that, don’t worry "and then he said "How are you?" in Kurdish, upon which the line was cut off.
Who is dumping Lausanne?
Treaty of Lausanne, article 39 reads:
"No restrictions shall be imposed on the free use by any Turkish national of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, religion, in the press, or in publications of any kind or at public meetings. Notwithstanding the existence of the official language, adequate facilities shall be given to Turkish nationals of non-Turkish speech for the oral use of their own language before the Courts."
Write the draft law without the letter "w"
Osman Özçelik, Democratic Society Party’s (DTP) MP for Siirt, put forward a draft law proposing that celebrate 21 March as ‘Freedom and Peace Festival, Newroz’ and making the day a holiday.
Laws and Regulations Department Headquarters examined the draft and underlined some spelling mistakes in the text with the use of letter "w". The report wanted the draft to use letter ‘v’ instead of ‘w’ adding that under article 3 of the Constitution ‘Turkey is an indivisible whole with its state, land and nation. Her language is Turkish; our laws must use Turkish words."
17 people condemned for making politics in "Kurdish"
Manisa Criminal Court of Peace Num.2 condemned Sah Ismail Özocak to pay a fine of 3 thousand lira for making election propaganda in Kurdish before 22 July 2007 elections. Özocak was an independent candidate supported by DTP in Manisa. It has been revealed that Özocak did not know Kurdish, he appealed to the High Court on 12 January.
In December 2008 Manavgat Criminal Court Num.1 gave 15 people 9 months prison sentence each for speaking Kurdish during election campaign. Poet Sükrü Erbas, Kurdish politician who was killed in 2005 Hikmet Fidan were among the condemned as well as some who cannot speak Kurdish.
5 years prison sentence asked for the owner of Aram Publishing House
Bedri Adanir the owner of Aram Publishing House faces a possible 5 year prison sentence under the charge of "making propaganda for a terrorist organisation" (Anti-terror law article 7/2) for publishing a book, "On Culture and Arts" a compilation of past public addresses by Abdullah Ocalan. Diyarbakir Prosecution service’s indictment noted that the book referred Abdullah Öcalan as "Chairman", members as "guerrilla" and "martyrs".
Ayrinti newspaper closed down for one month
Istanbul High Criminal Court Num.14 closed down a weekly paper "Ayrinti" for one month, "making propaganda for a terrorist organisation" in its 24-30 January dated 5th. issue. The ruling was based on article 25/2 of Statue 5187. The court also ruled that in reports and news in the same issue there was "praising crime and criminal and propaganda for organisation" hence confiscated the issue.
High Court is confused on sexual orientation
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual Solidarity Association Lambdaistanbul has been active in Istanbul since 1993 and it was officially founded as an association on 18 May 2006. Istanbul Governorship wanted Lambda to be closed down claiming that Lambda’s statue was against law and morals. Prosecutor rejected the case on the grounds of freedom of assembly but Governorship appealed to High Court.
On 29 May 2008, Beyoglu Court abolished LambdaIstanbul on the grounds that it was in violation of general morals and Turkish family structure despite a contrary expert report.
High Court Legal Department Num.7 reversed Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance Num.3 "violation of public morals".
High Court Department Num.7 made the ruling on 25 November 2009. The high Court ruling stated "sexual identity and orientation is not a phenomenon chosen by individuals according their preference but it is brought from birth or the manner of upbringing." However the court ruled that it may be banned to promote homosexuality.
High Court: They have the right but they cannot spread it
High Court referred to article 20 of United Nations Human Rights Universal Declaration, article 22 of Political and Civil Rights Agreement and article 9 of European Human Rights Convention, article 10 of the Constitution, article 56 of Turkish Civil Law, and article 3 of Law of Associations however leaves the door open for a restriction:
"Articles 30 and 31 Law on Associations can be implemented and the said association can be reported for closure in the future if the association in violation of its statue engages in activity to promote, spread and encourage lesbian, gay, transvestite or transsexual sexual orientation. (Freedom of Expression Weekly Bulletin – Issue 05/09, 30 January 2009)
http://www.info-turk.be/366.htm#Ban
