By Nadire Mater Istanbul, September 21, 1999—A local prosecutor in Beyoglu, Istanbul has finally indicted me under Article 159 of the penal code ( “insulting and belittling the military”) for having published the statements of former army soldiers who I interviewed for my book Mehmedin Kitabi(“Mehmed’s Book—Soldiers Who Have Fought in the Southeast Speak Out”). The…
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing in response to the Turkish parliament’s approval last month of an amnesty law (law 4454 for 1999) that will secure the release of a number of jailed journalists and writers imprisoned on the basis of their published work and which is expected to temporarily cancel dozens of other prosecutions pending in court.
Click here to read CPJ’s September 17 letter to Prime Minister Ecevit. September 17, 1999—On August 28, the Turkish parliament approved an amnesty bill that will secure the release of a number of journalists and writers who were jailed on the basis of their published work. The law was signed by President Suleiman Demirel on…
June 9, 1999 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a nonpartisan organization devoted to safeguarding press freedom around the world, has confirmed the following new developments in the cases of three independent journalists targeted by the Yugoslav military for practicing their profession. Croatian journalist escapes Yugoslav military incarceration
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply disturbed by the criminal prosecution of Nikol Pashinian, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily Oragir, as well as by efforts on the part of your government to shut down the paper.
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by a recent series of attacks against correspondents from Radio Lemma in Vladivostok, as well as by efforts on the part of regional and municipal authorities to shut down the popular independent radio station.
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is greatly alarmed by recent harassment and blackmail attempts, apparently initiated by the Kazak State Security Service (KNB), against Bigeldin Gabdullin, editor-in-chief of the XXI Vek (21st Century) opposition newspaper in Almaty.
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to express great concern about the recent harassment of Alexander Kim, chief editor of the independent daily Vecherny Bishkek. On August 24, representatives from the Kyrgyz State Tax Police attempted to arrest Kim on charges of tax evasion and ordered him to provide a number of the newspaper’s financial documents. Kim argued that Vecherny Bishkek had successfully passed a tax audit in December, and that, according to Article 13 of the Kyrgyz Tax Code, no additional review could be performed for another year.
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by official Russian, Dagestani, and Chechen efforts to restrict media coverage of the conflict in Dagestan. On August 17, the new Russian Ministry for the Press, Television and Radio Broadcasting, and Media Affairs issued a formal warning to Russia’s national television networks barring them from broadcasting interviews with any of the Islamist rebel leaders now waging a separatist war against Russia in the Caucasus region of Dagestan. The warning was delivered to ORT Russian Public TV, the All Russia State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company, Russian TV, NTV, and TV-6.
August 18, 1999 To all who respect basic human rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and the press, all who respect the rights of every person to due process, and all who are concerned about democratic development around the world: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in partnership with The Trade Union of Journalists…