Trials in Turkey this week

I friend sent this information from Turkey, thanks! I forward it to Sahmaran's readers.

As more than 100 people have been on trial under TPC article 301 since 1 June 2005, 22 people have been on trial during July-September 2007 period. Among them the late chief editor of AGOS weekly Hrant Dink who was assasinated, and Nobel winner Orhan Pamuk, and many other journalist, writer and academic.

This week's '301' victims are journalist Hacı Boğatekin, publisher Ahmet Önal and writer Murat Çoskun. Boğatekin is charged over his article published in "Fırat Gerger" newspaper, Önal and Coşkun are charged over the book "Language of Suffering".

"Freedom of Expression" Trials of this week:

Accused : Haci Bogatekin
Court and Date of Hearing : Gerger Criminal Court of First Instance, 06 November 2007 at 10:00 am
Introduction : Journalist Boğatekin is charged with ¨openly insulting the state¨ over and anonymous article published ¨Gerger Fırat Newspaper¨. The article wrote ¨State made a mistake. Where and When?. Yesterday in the East and South East, and then in İstanbul. In Maraş and Sivas. Today in Trabzon, Mersin and the south east.

Accused : Muzaffer Erdogdu on behalf of Pencere Publishers, Ahmet Guner, Taner Akcam
Court and Date of Hearing : Ankara 6th Legal Court of First Instance, 08 November 2007 at 09:35 am
Introduction : Republic People Party (CHP) MP Şükrü Elekdağ opened a case over the book “Treatment of Armenians in Ottoman Empire, 95-96” against the publisher Muzaffer Erdogdu, the translator Ahmet Guner and the historian Taner Akçam whose article was published in the book. Elekdağ claimed 20.000 Turkish Liras of compensation.

Accused : Ahmet Onal, Murat Coskun
Court and Date of Hearing : Beyoglu 2nd. Criminal Court of First İnstance, 08 November 2007 at 10:15 am
Introduction : Writer Murat Coskun and owner of Peri publishing house Ahmet Onal stand trial for Murat Coskun´s book ¨The language of suffering: Woman¨