Category Archives: Press Freedom

In Turkey, freedom of expression early casualty of “anti-terror” campaign

Posted on March 25, 2016 by heissenstat

Turkey has suffered from a series of horrendous attacks in recent months.  The security challenges it faces are very real.  Unfortunately, the rhetoric coming out of Ankara suggests that, under the umbrella of fighting terrorism, the most basic civil liberties … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Cumhuriyet, Erdogan, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, Press Freedom, Terrorism, Turkey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on In Turkey, freedom of expression early casualty of “anti-terror” campaign

Amnesty calls on Turkey to End Abusive Operations

Posted on January 20, 2016 by heissenstat

In a briefing and press release today (January 21) , Amnesty International renewed its call to Turkish authorities to “end the indefinite curfews in Kurdish neighbourhoods across east and south-east Turkey.” For several months, Amnesty International has been urging the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Freedom, Andrew Gardner, Anti-terrorism, Erdogan, Excessive Force, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, Impunity, Kurds, PKK, Press Freedom, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty calls on Turkey to End Abusive Operations

Disturbing news in Frederike Geerdink case: Journalism under Fire in Turkey [update 9/11]

Posted on September 8, 2015 by heissenstat

The first news on social media seemed positive, saying that journalist, Frederike Geerdink, who was detained several days ago, had finally been released.   Unfortunately, things do not look so positive now. Amnesty International‘s Turkey Researcher, Andrew Gardner, contacted her lawyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Press, Kurds, Press Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Disturbing news in Frederike Geerdink case: Journalism under Fire in Turkey [update 9/11]

Amnesty on Arrest of Vice Journalists: “unsubstantiated, outrageous and bizarre” [updated 9/4/15]

Posted on September 1, 2015 by heissenstat

The crackdown on journalists in Turkey continues.  Earlier this week, another wave of journalists were summarily sacked, apparently for writing reports critical of the government (an issue that we have repeatedly highlighted on this blog). Late yesterday, journalists from Vice … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Freedom of Expression, Press Freedom | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty on Arrest of Vice Journalists: “unsubstantiated, outrageous and bizarre” [updated 9/4/15]

Another appalling prosecution of journalists in Turkey

Posted on April 9, 2015 by heissenstat

It didn’t take long.  After yesterday’s good news in the trial of Dutch journalist Fréderike Geerdink, in which the prosecutor moved for acquittal, came news from Istanbul that another prosecutor was asking for 4.5 years each for journalists Ceyda Karan … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Freedom of COnscience, Freedom of Expression, Press Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another appalling prosecution of journalists in Turkey

Guest Blog: Surprising turn in trial Dutch journalist: good news?

Posted on April 8, 2015 by heissenstat

  April 8, 2015 | The trial of Dutch journalist Fréderike Geerdink took an unexpected turn this morning in Diyarbakır’s 6th High Criminal Court. After she delivered her statement pleading not guilty to the charge of making propaganda for a … Continue reading →

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Some good news in the bad trial of Fréderike Geerdink

Posted on April 8, 2015 by heissenstat

talking to dutch national tv nos after even prosecutor asked for my acquittal. verdict on monday! #amed #journalism pic.twitter.com/uDoxm5t9GB — Frederike Geerdink (@fgeerdink) April 8, 2015 Amnesty has been closely following the troubling story of journalist Fréderike Geerdink’s prosecution under … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Press Freedom, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Some good news in the bad trial of Fréderike Geerdink

Amnesty on Turkey’s Worsening Human Rights Record: 11 Key Issues

Posted on February 24, 2015 by heissenstat

At midnight tonight, Amnesty International issued its Annual Report, The State of the World’s Human Rights.  There is grim reading throughout.  This was a tough year for human rights worldwide. Below I’ll try to outline the main issues that Amnesty … Continue reading →

Posted in Amnesty International, Andrew Gardner, Excessive Force, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, Gezi Park, Impunity, Internet Freedom, Press Freedom, Taksim, Teargas, Turkey, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Amnesty on Turkey’s Worsening Human Rights Record: 11 Key Issues

Another casualty in Turkey’s war on journalists

Posted on February 2, 2015 by heissenstat

The news today that Dutch journalist, Frederike Geerdink, is being prosecuted under anti-terror statutes is, sadly, unsurprising.  The prosecution of journalists in Turkey, is after all, hardly a rare occurrence; seldom does a week go by when a journalist in … Continue reading →

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As another child dies in Eastern Turkey: “Silence equals Death”

Posted on January 14, 2015 by heissenstat

Today, I won’t be writing about Turkey’s horrid response to the Charlie Hebdo attacks and their aftermath today.  Enough ink has been spilled about the crocodile tears spilt by Prime Minister Davutoglu in Paris as he stood in defense of … Continue reading →

Posted in Charlie Hebdo, Cumhuriyet, Davutoglu, Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Kurds, Nihat Kazanhan, Press Freedom, Umit Kurt | Tagged , , | Comments Off on As another child dies in Eastern Turkey: “Silence equals Death”