Turkey Regional Action Network

April 2013

1) AIUSA Blog articles on Turkey

Arrest Made in Samatya Attacks by Howard Eissenstat March 5, 2012 An ugly string of attacks on elderly Armenian women in Istanbul may have ended with an arrest of a suspect. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/03/05/a rrest-made-in-samatya-attacks/ English PEN calls for charges against Ahmet k to be dropped by Howard Eissenstat March 12, 2013 With the anniversary of an award winning journalist, Ahmet k s release pending trial English PEN has called for charges against him to be dropped and initiated a letterwriting campaign on his behalf. You can find out more about the case and take an action at: http://www.englishpen.org/turkey-takeaction-for-investigative-journalist-ahmet-sik/ Turkeys War on Its Intellectuals by Willam Jones March 17, 2013 The number and quality of intellectuals that are currently languishing in Turkish prisons is staggering. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/03/17/t urkeys-war-on-its-intellectuals/

In Erdogans Turkey, even children get sued by William Jones April 1, 2013 Defamation laws have become another bludgeon of the strong against the weak in Turkey. Turkey has 2,824 students who have either been charged or have been arrested for offenses ranging from insulting the Prime Minister to holding up banners demanding free education. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/01/in -erdogans-turkey-even-children-get-sued/ Article 301: End it, dont Amend it by Howard Eissenstat April 3, 2013 Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which made denigrating Turkishness a criminal act, has been prosecuting countless intellectuals. Continue reading the article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/0 3/article-301-end-it-dont-amend-it/
"Poets, Scholars, and other Terrorists by Howard Eissenstat April 4, 2013 Former Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin s infamous speech reveals the thinking behind the mass arrests and imprisonment in Turkey under anti-terrorism laws. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/04/p

oets-scholars-and-other-terrorists/

CCS joins Amnestys campaign on Freedom of Expression in Turkey by Howard Eissenstat April 5, 2013 The Committee of Concerned Scientists (CCS) has joined Amnesty s campaign for freedom of expression in Turkey. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/05/c cs-joins-amnestys-campaign-on-freedom-ofexpression-in-turkey/ Identity and the new constitution by Howard Eissenstat April 7, 2013 The idea behind Mustafa Kemal Ataturks famous dictum, How happy is the one who says I am a Turk, poses a direct challenge to the rights of Turkeys minorities. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/07/id entity-and-the-new-constitution/ Turkeys War on Journalists by Howard Eissenstat April 7, 2013 Amberin Zaman, the most recently fired columnist: As a Turkish journalist the dilemma one faces is increasingly that of having to choose between your pay check or your professional integrity. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/07/t urkeys-war-on-journalists/ Protest at Emek Theatre: Amnesty calls for Investigation by Howard Eissenstat April 8, 2013 The peaceful protesters who oppose the destruction of the historic Emek Theater were suppressed by the police brutality. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/08/p rotest-at-emek-theatre-amnesty-calls-forinvestigation/

Committee to Protect Journalists Blog: Press Freedom Still in Peril by Howard Eissenstat April 10, 2013 zgr ret writes that hopes for an end to the conflict between Turkey and the PKK must be balanced with on-going concerns regarding basic issues of human rights, Continue reading the article at:

http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/1 0/committee-to-protect-journalists-blogpress-freedom-still-in-peril/
Thanks to SLU by Howard Eissenstat April 11, 2013 Many thanks to the Amnesty International chapter at St. Lawrence University for adopting Amnesty s current campaign to end the criminalization of dissent in Turkey as the first campus group. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/11/t hanks-to-slu/ The 4th Judicial Package: Some Preliminary Observations by Howard Eissenstat April 12, 2013 Turkey s premature Forth judicial package has been passed with the introduction of last minute amendments. Turkey s judicial reform is far from over. We still have much more to do to keep pressuring the government to bringing Turkish statutes in line with international standards of human rights law and in terms of a host of other human rights issues. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/12/t he-4th-judicial-package-some-preliminaryobservations/ English PEN welcomes Turkish Minister of Culture by Howard Eissenstat April 14, 2013

Read English PEN s open letter to Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, mer elik, who arrived to the 2013 London Book Fair at a time when major authors and intellectuals are subject to imprisonment and government harassment because of the ideas they express. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/14/e nglish-pen-welcomes-turkish-minister-ofculture/

in an illegal organization for her proKurdish cultural advocacy. Continue reading the article at: http://www.pen.org/pressrelease/2013/04/15/top-pen-prize-honoraye-berktay-jailed-turkish-translator-writerand

tvw tvwtvw tvw 2) CONTINUING URGENT ACTION on Freedom of Expression in Turkey Please keep up your good work!!
AIUSA TURKRAN would like to thank those who signed the on-line petition addressed to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan to call for reforms that deliver genuine reform to deliver the right to freedom of expression in Turkey. Your individual voices through the petition and social media actions all played an important role in keeping pressure on the Turkish government. As Howard Eissenstat notes in his blog The 4th Judicial Package: Some Preliminary Observations, the Turkish government felt the pressure from activists within and outside of Turkey. We are still assessing the amendments added to the judicial package, but it seems clear that these were introduced at virtually the last minute to try to address the limited nature of the package overall. We are far from over. Although amendments were added and the Fourth Judicial Package was passed, judicial reform has achieved little to ensure true freedom of expression in Turkey. As it is evident from the recent conviction of Fazil Say, the right to freedom of expression continues to severely lag behind international standards in Turkey.

Breaking news: Fazil Say Receives 10 month suspended sentence by Howard Eissenstat April 15, 2013 A world-renowned Turkish pianist Fazil Say has been convicted and sentenced to a tenmonth suspended sentence for tweeting messages that were perceived as insulting to Islam. Continue reading the article at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/2013/04/15/b reaking-news-fazil-say-receives-10-monthsuspended-sentence/
To view the reaction of Amnesty Internationals Turkey Researcher, Andrew Gardner, go to: http://rt.com/op-edge/turkeyfazil-say-rights-897/ For further reading on Says conviction, Who is Insulting Islam: Fazil Say or His Punishers can be found at http://www.almonitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/04/turkis h-poet-arrested-fazil-say-insultingislam.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=em ail&utm_campaign=6929 Top PEN prize Aye Berktay April 16, 2013 PEN American has named Aye Berktay, a translator, writer, and activist in Turkey, as the recipient of its 2013 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. Aye Berktay 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

Thousands of writers, intellectuals, political activists, human rights lawyers, and elected mayors still remain in jail, many for months and even years in pretrial detention simply for expressing non-violent opinions. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan is scheduled to visit Washington DC on May 16 to meet President Barack Obama. We AIUSA TURKRAN encourage you and your friends and family to continue spreading the word and raise awareness about Amnestys campaign to end the criminalization of dissent in Turkey.

AIUSA TURKRAN also welcomes new colleagues: the Committee of concerned scientists (CCS) and Amnesty International chapter at St. Lawrence University. They recently joined Amnestys campaign for freedom of expression in Turkey. Readings: Amnesty International report: "Turkey: Decriminalize Dissent: Time to Deliver on the Right to Freedom of Expression" (Available in English and Turkish) http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR 44/001/2013/en

How You Can Help NOW! If you have not joined our campaign, it is not too late. Please act now. 1) Online Petition: the current petition text will be changed in the next week to address the repercussions of the 4th Judicial Package, and we will be sending out the updated petition and new actions as soon as we receive them. Meanwhile, take a moment to sign the online petition; we need to keep up the pressure prior to Erdogans U.S. visit, so please join us NOW!! http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/a dvocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJU G&b=6645049&aid=519516 2) Twitter Campaign: If you are active on Twitter, please follow us and re-tweet us AIUSA TURKRAN @AIUSA_TURKRAN.

A brief version of the report can be found at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/turkeytime-remove-shackles-freedom-201303-27 tvw tvwtvw tvw Public Release Turkey: Respect for rights must be at heart of negotiations with PKK
Amnesty International responded to imprisoned PKK leader Abdulah Ocalan s call for a cease fire. John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director, in his response to the news, said: The Turkish authorities must seize the opportunity created by PKK chief Abdulah Ocalan s call for a truce and work for a lasting peace based on justice for victims of human rights abuses committed by both sides during the decades of conflict. To read the full press release, please go to: http://www.amnesty.org/en/formedia/press-releases/turkey-respect-rightsmust-be-heart-negotiations-pkk-2013-03-21

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

Conviction of Turkish pianist sends 'chilling' warning to Twitter users

April 15, 2013 In response to the conviction of Fazil Say, Amnesty International Turkey Researcher Andrew Gardner says This case sends a chilling warning to anyone using Twitter or other social media in Turkey. Namely, that if you express an opinion the authorities don't like, you could be next. To read the full press release, please go to: http://amnesty.org/en/news/convictionturkish-pianist-sends-chilling-warningtwitter-users-2013-04-15

If you have any questions, or would like to receive a monthly newsletter directly to your email box, please contact AIUSA TURKRAN coordinator: Natsumi Ajiki at najiki@mac.com.

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If you are interested in the issue of Human Rights in Turkey and willing to participate in Amnestys Turkey-related actions, consider joining us on our Turkey Regional Action Network on: Human Rights in Turkey Website at: http://humanrightsturkey.org/ Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amne sty- International-USA-Turkey-RegionalAction- Network/134561963283302 Twitter at: AIUSA TURKRAN
@AIUSA_TURKRAN.

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