Think, think… Freedom of Expression Weekly Bulletin (Issue 27/13, 5 July 2013) What happened last week? (28 June-5 July 2013) The headlines of the last 6 weeks were the Gezi Park resistance and the disproportionate use of force and violence by the police. This week Turkey is shaken by the firings and resignations in mainstream media. NTV History magazine with 35-thousand circulation rate is closed down by its administration affiliated to Doğuş Media Group as they were preparing a special issue on Gezi Park resistance. Following the closing down decision, the Supervisor of Magazines Neyyire Özkan and the chief in editor of the NTV History Magazine Gürsel Göncü declared their resignation. Yeni Şafak newspaper, which is continuously issuing hostile news against the protestors, fired its columnist Kürşat Bumin who was working for them for 16 years, in an impolite way. When this things were happening in Turkey, in Denmark The Danish Supreme Court has endorsed the ruling by the Copenhagen City Court in 2012 against ROJ TV, Nuçe TV and MMC which are broadcasting Kurdish news and has revoked their broadcasting licence. The court fined Mesopotamia Broadcast with 5 million Danish kroner. This fine is recorded as the highest one in Danish history. To sum up, the force and the weight of the political pressure is jeopardising once again the freedom of expression and the right to have unbiased and objective news. Before reporting the other news of the week, we want to commemorate on the 20th anniversary of the Sivas Massacre 35 people killed in Madımak Hotel with the verses of the poet Metin Altıok who lost his life in the massacre:

“You, from today to tomorrow

Keep a little faith!”

20th anniversary of the Sivas Massacre Tens and thousands gathered to walk to Madımak Hotel in Sivas on the 20th anniversary of the Sivas Massacre. In the rally held in Sivas, people emphasized the fact that they continue to ask for justice. Kemal Bülbül, Chairman of the Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association said that “ There will be no Alevi opening without turning the Madımak Hotel into a museum. This should the starting point.” Thousands of people gathered in other cities such as İstanbul, Ankara, Antalya and İzmir to commemorate the 35 people killed in the massacre. People were also chanting slogans to support Gezi Park resistance.

Resignations and firings in Mainstream Media *** NTV History Magazine is shut down due to special Gezi Park issue NTV History magazine is shut down due to its special issue on Gezi Park resistance, which caused crisis in Doğuş Media Group’s administration, and the issue is not published. NTV is not broadcasting the Gezi Park resistance since the beginning of the protests. People who resigned since are:

The Supervisor of Periodicals Neyyire Özkan and the chief in editor of the NTV History Magazine Gürsel Göncü, the CEO of the Doğuş Media Group Cem Aydın, NTV programmer Çiğdem Anad, NTV Ankara Represntative Nilgün Balkaç, the chief in editor of GQ Magazine Mirgün Cabas, NTV Radio programmer Dilara Eldaş. NTV Programming Director Murat Toklucu, NTV Documentary director Nedim Hazar Bora and his team. *** ROJ TV, Nuçe TV and MMC’s broadcasting licences are revoked The Danish court revoked the license of Kurdish television channels ROJ TV, Nuçe TV and MMC. The court ordered 5 million kroner of fine the Mesopotamia Brodcasting Agency controlling these channels. The broadcasting companies cannot object the decision unless they pay the fine. The Danish court decision is the highest fine ordered for a broadcasting network. BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) headquarters commented the Danish court's verdict as a scandalous unlawful decision that trampled on the European Union law and would pass into history of democracy as a black mark. BDP urged the Danish government to revoke the unlawful verdict and to respect the values of the Kurdish people. *** Columnist Kürşat Bumin fired from Yeni Şafak newpaper The journalist Kürşad Bumin known for his democratic tendency is fired by Yeni Şafak daily newspaper which he had been regularly contributing for 16 years. He learnt that having a call from the Human Resources manager of Yeni Şafak fired him. There is no explicit declaration from the side of the newspaper; but it is known that Bumin was writing against the columnist Salih Tuna from the same newspaper that supports the AKP government. Kürşad Bumin stated “As I worked for years at Yeni Şafak, I find it very sad to see that what was once a trustworthy newspaper became something else”. *** A resignation from Sabah daily Alper Bahçekapılı, who had been contributing to Sabah daily-known as a close ally to the government- with his articles on arts and culture first realized the performance Standing Man in front of his newspaper and resigned from his position afterwards. *** Before and After Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) It is claimed that Ali Kırca and Tuba Atav, who work for producing and presenting main news report on Show TV, recently bought by Ciner Group from SDIF, are sent on vacation and won't continue their positions in Show TV after that. After taken over by SDIF, Akşam daily's editor-in-chief İsmail Karakaya was sacked and his position was given to journalist Mehmet Ocaktan, an ex-JDP MP. The column of Hüsnü Mahalli criticizing government's policies on Syria was also cancelled. *** Discharged Because of Tweeting In Bursa, MarmaraBirlik's Press Advisor and Permanent Press Card holder İhsan Bölük and Olay Medya Internet Chief and Press Card holder Berhan Soner are discharged from their positions because of their tweets from personal Twitter accounts.

Swedish Journalist will sue Turkey Sarah Olsson, the Swedish journalist who had been detained and deported while observing the protests against what happened in Diyarbakır Lice that left Medeni Yıldırım dead and tens of people injured announced that she will sue Turkey in the European Court of Human Rights. Olsson spoke to the Swedish channel Expressen: “ I was in custody for three days. Turkish state limited my freedom. That's why I will pursue for justice in court.”

The state will follow social media from 'Blue Room' The active use of social media during Gezi events urged Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications. The Ministry will organize a special team of crime investigation on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The center is named as 'Blue Room' after the colour of social media platforms. The Ministry also started to work for organizing National Cyber Intervention Center and Cyber Events Intervention Center that will work 24/7 in collaboration with Cyber Security Board against cyber crimes.

Solidarity With Gezi Park Detainees An independent campaign is started for the solidarity with Gezi Park detainees. The website “Gezi Park Tutsakları” and pages opened on social media aim to stay in solidarity with those imprisoned during the events and fight for their release. Images and information related to Gezi Park detainees can be sent to: iletisim@geziparkitutsaklari.org

Court: Ethem Sarısülük's family doesn't have right to appeal The court answered Ethem Sarısülük's family who rejected the decision for Ahmet Şahbaz to be released on pending trial and asked for his re-arrest: At this stage, the family doesn't have such a right. The judge Yusuf Öztürk claimed that the complainers can not appeal for pending trial at this investigation state.

BDP: The government should take Öcalan's freedom on its agenda Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) İstanbul MP Sebahat Tuncel said that in the continuation of the peace process, the government should take Öcalan's freedom on its agenda. After Tuncel's speech, Öcalan sent a public explanation. To his brother Mehmet Öcalan “While I'm imprisoned, the process cannot work from one side.”

Hate discourse from İsmail Türüt with a song İsmail Türüt sang a song he wrote that swears to Gezi Park protestors and supporters in Ankara Festival. Türüt who wrote a song praising the killer after the assassination of Agos newspaper's editor-in-chief Hrant Dink “Don't make any plans” made another song for Gezi Park protestors. The song starts with “A festival in Ankara, Gezi in Istanbul. These lowborn have a network in every corner,” supports the police and uses swear phrases for Gezi Park protestors and supporters. You can click on the link to listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SmKeIwo5X8

Ramadan tent in Gezi Park! Ak Party government who forced out Gezi Park tents with police prepares a Ramadan tent in the park. The park that was closed to public despite court decision will re-open on 9th July, the beginning of Ramadan.

Civil Police Violence in Takvim protests Takvim newspaper is protested in Ankara and Istanbul for headlining 'Knock Out' for a picture of a woman lying on the ground after beaten by her boyfriend in Yalova. In Ankara civil police verbally assaulted the protesting women and a woman was physically forced to leave documenting the event. The women documented what happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVTPyimgsI4 *****************************************************************************