Let jailed journalists refer to the Strasbourg court

Abdülhamit Bilici

No one can say that everything is rosy in terms of democracy and freedom of thought in a country that is being ruled by a constitution drafted by coup generals as in Turkey. There are many steps that need to be taken for the progress of democracy, and the proponents of a universally valid democracy are all aware of them.

Old Turkey used to show allergic reactions to criticisms voiced by foreign countries about its democratic performance. And the country would spend time and energy responding to these criticisms instead of investing its efforts in the measures that would eliminate, say, torture. Most naturally, this course of action would never be able to put an end to torture nor would this good-for-nothing heroism sound convincing to the critics.

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Murder of Christian missionaries and the deep state

Markar Esayan

Remembering the victims of Malatya

In my article on Friday I underlined the crucial importance of the investigations into coups and the deep state for Turkey's democratization and the establishment of a new state apparatus. Today I want to discuss the landmark trial launched in connection with the murder of Christian missionaries at the Zirve Publishing House in Malatya on April 18, 2007.

Turkey has so many issues that have accumulated over time and such a busy agenda that we can hardly allocate sufficient time or interest to the very important developments. Yet it is of vital importance to maintain the general public's interest in such trials and processes. This is because when they are relegated to oblivion, these critical trials may be sabotaged by the deep state networks that still survive in our time.

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Ramifications of ‘Sledgehammer'

Yavuz Baydar

It took 21 months.

After a painful, intensely debated judicial process, Turkey's critical coup trial ended with not much surprise -- except to those who are the relatives of the suspects -- when a heavy series of prison sentences were issued by the court in İstanbul.

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Fethullah Gülen: I am in favor of freedom of expression and the press

Fethullah Gulen

On March 27th, 2012 in Today’s Zaman, an English Language daily Newspaper from Turkey Fethullah Gülen’s comments on the freedom of expression and press were outlined.

Turkish Muslim thinker Fethullah Gülen has said he advocates broader rights specifically in the arenas of freedom of expression and freedom of the press for journalists, including those who “unjustly” accuse him of conspiring against them.

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