Freedom of expression Arkiver - Page 2 of 3

30-12-22

Monitoring Gezi – PEN Norway’s Five Year Report

Monitoring Gezi

Read our full five-year report here:

Interviews with each imprisoned defendant, articles, indictment reports and an overview of PEN Norway’s monitoring of the five-year Gezi Park trial that was aimed at criminalising and jailing defenders of freedom and democracy in Turkey.

As part of the Turkey Indictment Project, PEN Norway published two indictment reports relating to the Gezi Park trial defendants. These were an analysis of the indictment in the main Gezi Park case and an analysis of the subsequent indictment regarding bogus espionage charges in relation to Osman Kavala and Jak Barkey. Both reports are included here.

This booklet on PEN Norway’s observations of and advocacy for the defendants in the Gezi case includes articles on the monitoring process, the importance of the Gezi uprising to the people of Turkey, the government’s brutal pushback on rights and freedoms in the wake of the 2013 protests and also our hearing reports, statements and open letters.

Following the shocking sentencing and immediate arrest on April 25, 2022 of all present Gezi defendants, we continued our solidarity and support of these innocent human rights advocates by interviewing them all, in turn, in prison. Their interviews can be found towards the end of the booklet and are a testament to personal strength, convictions and their unshakeable belief in democracy and a fair, open society where all views are respected and in which the organs of state function correctly.

Early in 2023 PEN Norway will hold a launch event for this five-year study of the Gezi Park trial.

29-12-22

No release for Fincancı, again

The second hearing of the trial against Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, the President of the Union of Turkey’s Medical Associations (TBB) and a forensic medicine expert, was held today at the 24th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. Fincancı is on trial for the alleged crime of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”.

Fincancı’s lawyers said the trial was not fair or objective and requested the recusal of the judicial panel. The court rejected this request and ruled to continue Fincancı’s detention in prison.

Korur Fincancı was first targeted on social media and then arrested following her comments on images she had been shown in relation to the alleged use of chemical weapons in military operations carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Her comments were broadcast in October 2022 by the Kurdish television Medya Haber, based in Europe,

A wall of military police around Fincancı

Seven miliatary police accompanied Fincancı as she was brought to the court room, and she stood encircled by five of them throughout the trial.

More than 80 lawyers were present to defend Fincancı. The hearing was observed by a large crowd of medical doctors, rights defenders, and journalists, as well as diplomats from the Swiss and EU delegations and the German Consul General. Parliamentary representatives included the HDP co-chairman as well as HDP and CHP party deputies. The courtroom proved to be too small for the large number of observers.

Lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu requested that the hearing be held in a larger hall to protect the right to a fair trial. Erkan Şenses, the President of the Batman Bar Association noted that the Court’s decision to limit the number of lawyers representing Fincancı to three was against the law. He stated that this limitation had become a law after the coup attempt and did not apply to the prosecution of the offence of making propaganda for the terrorist organization.

The prosecutor restated his previous opinion. The lawyer of the Ministry of National Defence restated his request to become a party in the case, which had been rejected by the Court in the previous hearing. This request was rejected once again and the Ministry’s lawyer took a seat among the defence lawyers and followed the hearing. Unable to enter the hall due to the large number of observers, some of Fincancı’s lawyers objected to this situation, but the judge rejected this objection, declaring that “he would decide whoever would be allowed in the court room”.

Fincancı: Lung damage? I wonder what kind of a propaganda impact it has

Following the objections of the lawyers as to the formalities, the Court proceeded to hear Fincancı’s statement. Saying that her actions were not an offence but a part of her responsibilities as a medical doctor and a citizen, Fincancı stated “I wonder how one could interpret a medical assessment as an act of propaganda and what kind of a possible propaganda impact lung damage could have”.

Financı mentioned the ruling party AKP officials who targeted her and said:

“We criticised them based on science but they accused us of terrorism, high treason, using improper language. If I am a terrorist, I wonder which organization I am a member of. The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey? Association of Palestinian Prisoners? International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRTC)? The President of the Republic calls me a terrorist in front of the public. Then how can members of the judiciary dare to think differently?

“Our struggle is about bringing new lives into the world and about letting them live their lives with dignity. And I don’t think this is a crime, and therefore I demand acquittal.”

The lawyers requested the recusal of the judicial panel.

Quoting some of the statements made by the judge in the courtroom, Fincancı’s lawyers claimed that the court conveyed the impression that it has been operating under the instructions of the prosecutor. “It seems everything has been already predetermined in the prosecutor’s opinion and we are the small actors just making a statement here.”

Restating that Fincancı was on trial because she demanded an effective investigation against the allegation that chemical weapons were used, Fincancı’s lawyers expressed their disbelief that the case in question was being handled objectively and fairly as the unlawfulness and smear campaigns have been going on since the start of the investigation. Lawyer Eyüboğlu said, “We are here today with the expectation that you will hand down a sentence anyway,” and claimed that they requested a recusal because of these reasons.

After the lawyers’ request for the recusal of the judicial panel, the hearing was adjourned for 20 minutes.

After the break, the presiding judge dismissed the recusal request “on the grounds that it was overdue and intended to prolong the hearing”.

The Court decided to continue Fincancı’s detention. The next hearing is on January 11, 2023. PEN Norway will be represented in the courtroom on January 11, 2023.

29-12-22

Prof. Dr. Fincancı’ya Yine Tahliye Yok

Türk Tabipleri Birliği (TTB) Merkez Konseyi Başkanı ve adli tıp uzmanı Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı’nın “örgüt propagandası” suçlamasıyla yargılandığı davanın ikinci duruşması bugün İstanbul 24. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi’nde görüldü.

Fincancı’nın avukatları hakkaniyetli ve objektif bir yargılama olmadığını söyleyerek mahkeme heyetini reddetti. Mahkeme da bu talebi reddederen, Fincancı’nın tutukluluk halinin devamına karar verdi.

Korur Fincancı, Ekim 2022’de Avrupa’da yayın yapan Kürt televizyonu Medya Haber’de TSK’nin Irak Kürdistan Bölgesi’nde yürüttüğü askeri operasyonlarda kimyasal silah kullanıldığı iddialarına ilişkin yayınlanan görüntüleri değerlendirmesinin ardından, önce sosyal medyada hedef gösterilmiş, ardından da tutuklanmıştı.

Fincancı’ya jandarma çemberi

Fincancı salona 7 jandarma eşliğinde getirildi; 5 jandarma duruşma boyunca Fincancı’nın etrafında çember oluşturdu.

80’in üzerinde avukat Fincancı’yı savunmak için hazır bulundu. Çok sayıda, hekim, hak savunucusu ve gazetecinin yanısıra, İsviçre ve AB delegasyonundan temsilciler, Almanya Başkonsolosu, HDP eşbaşkanı, HDP ve CHP’li milletvekileri de duruşmayı takip etti. Duruşmaya gelenler salona sığmadı.

Avukat Meriç Eyüboğlu, adil yargılanma hakkının korunabilmesi için duruşmanın daha büyük bir salona alınmasını talep etti. Batman Baro başkanı Erkan Şenses ise Fincancı’ya yönelik üç avukat sınırının hukuka aykırılık olduğunu ifade etti. Darbe girişimi sonrasında yasalaşan bu sınırlamanın, örgüt propagandası yargılaması için geçerli olmadığını ifade etti.

Savcılık, önceki duruşmadaki mütalaasını tekrar etti. Geçtiğimiz duruşma katılma talebi reddedilen Milli Savunma Bakanlığı avukatı, bu duruşmaya da gelerek talebini tekrar etti. Talebi bir kere daha reddedildi. Bakanlık avukatı, savunma avukatları arasında oturarak duruşmayı takip etti. Fincancı’nın avukatlarının bir kısmı kalabalıktan salona giremediği için bu duruma itiraz etti ancak hakim “salonda kimin bulunacağına kendisinin karar verdiğini” söyleyerek bu itirazı reddetti.

Fincancı: Akciğer hasarının nasıl bir propaganda etkisi olduğunu merak ediyorum

Avukatların usule ilişkin itirazlarının ardından Fincancı’nın beyanına geçildi. Fincancı, yaptığının suç değil, hekim ve yurttaşlık sorumluluğu olduğunu söylerken, “Tıbbi bir değerlendirmenin, nasıl olup da propaganda eylemi olarak yorumlandığını, akciğer hasarının nasıl bir propaganda etkisi olduğunu merak ediyorum” diye konuştu.

Kendisini hedef gösteren AKP yetkililerinden bahseden Fincancı, şöyle konuştu:

“Biz onlara bilimsel eleştiriler yaparken onlar bizi teröristlikle, vatan hainliğiyle ve daha çok yakışıksız ifadeyle suçladı.

“Ben teröristsem, hangi örgütten olduğumu merak ediyorum. Türkiye İnsan Halkları Vakfı mı? Filistinli Mahpuslar Derneği mi? İşkence Mağdurları için Uluslararası Rehabilitasyon Konseyi mi (IRTC)? Cumhurbaşkanı çıkıp benim hakkımda terörist diyebiliyor. Yargı mensupları nasıl ayrıksı düşünebilirler?

“Biz yeni yaşamlar filizlensin, yaşayanlar hayatlarını onurla devam ettirsin diye mücadele ediyoruz. Bunun da bir suç olduğunu düşünmüyorum ve beraat talep ediyorum.”

Avukatlar mahkeme heyetini reddetti

Fincancı’nın avukatları da hakimin duruşma salonunda sarfettiği bazı ifadeleri tekrar ederek, mahkemenin savcıyla birlikte talimat dahilinde hareket ettiği izlenimi uyandırdığını söyledi. “Bu mütalaada her şey hazırlanmış gibi, biz de burada küçük aktörler olarak beyanda bulunuyoruz.”

Fincancı’nın kimyasal silah iddiası karşısında etkili bir soruşturma istediği için yargılandığını tekrar eden avukatları, soruşturma süresinden bu yana devam eden hukuksuzluklar ve yürütülen karalama kampanyaları nedeniyle bu davanın objektif ve hakkaniyetli yürütüldüğüne inanmadıklarını söyledi. “Biz bugün buraya ceza vereceğinizi öngörerek geldik” diyen Avukat Eyüboğlu, bu nedenlerle mahkeme heyetini reddettiklerini beyan etti.

Reddi hakim talebinin ardından duruşmaya 20 dakika ara verildi.

Aranın ardından, mahkeme başkanı reddi hakim talebini “süresinde yapılmadığı ve duruşmayı uzatmak için yapıldığı gerekçesiyle” reddetti.

Fincancı’nın tutukluluk halinin devamına karar verildi. Bir sonraki duruşma 11 Ocak 2023’te. Bu duruşmayı takip eden PEN Norveç, 11 Ocak 2023’te de duruşma salonunda hazır bulunacak.

23-12-22

Judicial harassment of Prof. Dr. Fincancı must stop!

Continuing Detenetion for Prof. Dr. Fincancı at today’s first hearing

The trial against Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, the President of the Turkish Medical Association (TBB) and a forensic medicine expert, began today at the 24th High Criminal Court of Istanbul in which she is charged with “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”.

Many observers, politicians, medical doctors and rights defenders were present to observe the first hearing. Korur Fincancı was greeted with applause as she entered the courtroom.

Following a hearing that lasted approximately 5 hours, the court ruled to continue Korur Fincancı’s detention. The next hearing will be held on April 29, 2022 at 10:30.

Following her comments on the images regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons in military operations carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, which were aired in October 2022 by the Kurdish television Medya Haber based in Europe, Korur Fincancı was first targeted on social media and then arrested.

Court allowed defence team only three lawyers

To demonstrate their solidarity with Korur Fincancı, present at the courthouse were many rights defenders, medical doctors, heads of medical chambers, HDP and CHP deputies, representatives of various civil society organizations and political parties, heads of bar associations in Istanbul, Izmir, Van, Diyarbakir, representatives from the USA, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria consulates and international rights organizations.

To defend Korur Fincancı, more than 800 lawyers submitted their licence to the court. Referring to the post-military coup legislation which states that only three lawyers could defend the accused, the judge ruled that only three lawyers would be allowed to defend Korur Fincancı.

The hearing was delayed for a while and many people, including journalists, observers, medical doctors and heads of medical chambers were unable to fit into the small courtroom.

Lawyers demanded the hearing to be moved to a larger courtroom. Reminding that only three lawyers were allowed to make the defence, however, the judge said there was no need for the hearing to be taken to a larger hall.

Korur Fincancı was transferred to Istanbul in handcuffs

The military police in the courtroom built a human shield between Korur Fincancı and her lawyers. The lawyers’ objection on this matter was rejected.

When the president of the court addressed the accused as “sen” (“you”, in second person singular as opposed to second person plural, as in French “vous”, t.n.) the lawyers and the audience reacted. The presiding judge, in explaining his attitude, said that he was not a kind person.

The lawyer of the Ministry of National Defence, who was in the courtroom, requested to become a party in the case. This request was rejected by the court on the grounds that the Ministry was not harmed by the crime. Defence lawyers also reacted to this request.

After these tense exchanges, the hearing continued with Şebnem Korur Fincancı’s statement. Korur Fincancı, who was detained in Sincan prison in Ankara, said that she was brought to Istanbul for the hearing by a transfer vehicle and kept in handcuffs throughout a 5-hour journey. She stated that this situation was a violation of human rights and fair trial requirements.

Korur Fincancı: An independent investigation is necessary to give a diagnosis on the images

Korur Fincancı said that the principle of presumption of innocence has been violated since the very beginning, and that the arrest warrant for her was presented to the press before her lawyers. Referring to the indictment, Korur Fincancı explained that the prosecutor who prepared the indictment had insufficient knowledge of forensic medicine and she expanded upon the statement that was the subject of her trial.

“The medical evaluation I made on the symptoms visible in the video, which took me to the reasonable conclusion that ‘a toxic gas was obviously used’, is a ‘pre-diagnosis’. Because it is only possible to determine whether a prohibited weapon was used or not, after an examination is conducted at the scene of the incident, laboratory examinations are carried out of the samples taken and autopsies of the bodies are performed in the light of the Minnesota Protocol, the connection between the scene of the incident and the alleged incident is established, a chemical agent is detected, complete with effective documentation. Therefore, it is not possible to identify the culprits without an effective investigation.

“Therefore,” she continued, “the medical opinion I have stated in the program was but a preliminary diagnosis. A diagnosis requires an effective and independent investigation and documentation.”

Lawyers: No requirements were met during the investigation process

Then, lawyers Meriç Eyüboğlu, Gulan Çağın Kaleli and Hülya Yıldırım gave their statements. The lawyers explained that the statements subject to trial did not meet the requirements for the charge of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” (Anti-Terorr Law Article 7/2). The lawyers claimed that their client was arrested after her statements that fall under academic and scientific expertise and freedom were targeted. They stated that no legal requirements were met during the investigation and prosecution process.

Eyüboğlu said, “My client said that the images appeared to give the impression of an involvement of a toxic agent, but also that independent committees should conduct an on-site examination of any deceased individuals to fully understand the matter. As she was talking about the need to conduct an on-site investigation, we cannot understand what our client is being accused of.”

Court: As it is understood that any judicial measure will be insufficient

Announcing his opinion after the lawyers, the prosecutor demanded that Korur Fincancı be penalized with the maximum penalty prescribed for the offense of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”.

The lawyers took the floor against the prosecutor’s opinion and stated that there was no legal justification for the continuation of her detention.

Korur Fincancı said, “It is very difficult to be under arrest, but it is an invaluable blessing for a human rights defender. We have always been demanding for an examination into the prisons, which was never approved. Therefore, the fact that the state itself sent me to a prison is valuable.”

Claiming that the implementation of any judicial control measure would be insufficient, the judicial panel ruled to continue Korur Fincancı’s detention. The next hearing will be held on December 29, 2022 and Korur Fincancı will be held in Bakırköy Women’s Prison in Istanbul until that time.

PEN Norway will continue to monitor this outrageous, illegal targeting of our colleague and stand in solidarity with Prof. Korur Fincancı until she is cleared of all charges.

23-12-22

Fincancı’ya yapılan hukuksal taciz durdurulsun!

Prof. Dr. Fincancı’nın Tutukluluğunun Devamına Karar Verildi

Türk Tabipleri Birliği (TTB) Merkez Konseyi Başkanı ve adli tıp uzmanı Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı’nın “örgüt propagandası” suçlamasıyla yargılandığı davanın ilk duruşması bugün İstanbul 24. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi’nde görülmeye başladı.

Duruşmayı izlemek için çok sayıda gözlemci, siyasetçi, hekim ve hak savunucusu hazır bulundu. Korur Fincancı, mahkeme salonuna alkışlar eşliğinde girdi.

Yaklaşık 5 saat süren duruşmanın ardından mahkeme Korur Fincancı’nın tutukluluk halinin devamına karar verdi. Bir sonraki duruşma 29 Aralık 2022 saat 10:30’da görülecek.

Korur Fincancı, Ekim 2022’de Avrupa’da yayın yapan Kürt televizyonu Medya Haber’de TSK’nin Irak Kürdistan Bölgesi’nde yürüttüğü askeri operasyonlarda kimyasal silah kullanıldığı iddialarına ilişkin yayınlanan görüntüleri değerlendirmesinin ardından, önce sosyal medyada hedef gösterilmiş, ardından da tutuklanmıştı.

Savunmaya üç avukat sınırlaması

Çok sayıda hak savunucusu, hekimler, tabip odası başkanları, HDP ve CHP milletvekilleri, çeşitli sivil toplum ve siyasi parti temsilcilerinin yanısıra İstanbul, İzmir, Van, Diyarbakır baro başkanları, ABD, Almanya, Hollanda, İsviçre, Danimarka ve Avusturya konsolosluklarından temsilciler, uluslararası hak örgütlerinin temsilcileri de Korur Fincancı’ya destek vermek için adliyedeydi.

Korur Fincancı’yı savunmak için 800’ün üzerinde avukat mahkemeye yetki belgesi sundu. Hakim, darbe girişimi sonrasında kabul edilen ve sanığı sadece üç avukatın savunabileceğine dair kanuna dayanarak, duruşmada Korur Fincancı adına sadece üç avukatın savunma yapmasına karar verdi.

Duruşma gecikmeli olarak başlarken, salon küçük olduğu için aralarında gazeteciler, gözlemciler, hekimler ve tabip odaları başkanlarının da olduğu çok sayıda kişi mahkeme salonuna giremedi.

Avukatlar daha büyük bir salona geçilmesi için talepte bulundu. Ancak hakim, zaten sadece üç avukatın savunma yapabileceğini hatırlatarak, bu nedenle duruşmanın daha büyük bir salona alınmasına gerek olmadığını söyledi.

Korur Fincancı İstanbul’a kelepçeli getirildi

Mahkeme salonunda bulunan jandarmalar, Korur Fincancı ile avukatlar arasında etten bir duvar ördü. Avukatların bu konudaki itirazı reddedildi.

Mahkeme başkanının, sanığa “sen” diye hitap etmesi üzerine, avukatlar ve seyirciler tepki gösterdi. Mahkeme başkanı bu üslubunu “Ben nazik biri değilim” diyerek açıkladı.

Duruşma salonunda bulunan Milli Savunma Bakanlığı avukatı, davaya katılma talebinde bulundu. Suçtan zarar görmediği gerekçesiyle bu talep mahkemece reddedildi. Savunma avukatları da bu talebe tepki gösterdi.

Bu gerginliklerin ardından, Şebnem Korur Fincancı’nın beyanına geçildi. Ankara’daki Sincan cezaevinde tutulan Korur Fincancı, duruşma için İstanbul’a ring aracıyla getirildiğini ve 5 saatlik yol boyunca kelepçe ile bekletildiğini söyledi. Bu durumun insan haklarına ve adil yargılama koşullarına aykırı olduğunu belirtti.

Korur Fincancı: Görüntülerle ilgili tanıya ulaşabilmek için bağımsız soruşturma yapılmalıdır

Korur Fincancı, yaşadığı şu süreçte masumiyet karinesinin en başından beri ihlal edildiğini, hakkındaki tutuklama kararının avukatlarından önce basına servis edildiğini söyledi. İddianameye değinen Korur Fincancı, iddianameyi hazırlayan savcının adli tıp bilgisinin yetersiz olduğunu anlattı ve davaya konu olan sözlerini açıkladı:

“Videodaki belirtiler üzerine yaptığım ‘belli ki bir toksik/zehirli gaz kullanılmış durumda’ makul sonucuna ulaştığım tıbbi değerlendirme, bir ‘ön tanı’dır. Çünkü olay yerinde yapılacak inceleme, alınacak örneklerden yapılacak laboratuvar tetkikleri ve cenazelerin Minnesota Protokolü ışığında gerçekleştirilecek otopsileri ile etkili bir belgeleme ve olay yerinin iddia edilen olayla ilişkisi, bir kimyasal etken saptandığı koşulda bunun yasak silah olup olmadığı saptanabilir. Dolayısıyla etkili bir soruşturma olmadan sorumluların saptanması olanaklı değildir.

“O nedenle yayında belirttiğim tıbbi görüş bir ön tanıdır. Tanıya erişebilmek için de etkili ve bağımsız bir soruşturma ve belgeleme gerekmektedir.”

Avukatlar: Soruşturma sürecinde hiçbir gereklilik yerine getirilmedi

Ardından avukatlar Meriç Eyüboğlu, Gulan Çağın Kaleli ve Hülya Yıldırım beyanda bulundu. Avukatlar, davaya konu açıklamaların “örgüt propagandası” (TMK 7/2) suçlamasının koşullarını oluşturmadığını anlattı. Müvekkillerinin akademik ve bilimsel uzmanlık ve özgürlüğünü kullanarak yaptığı açıklamaların hedef gösterilmesinin ardından tutuklandığını söylediler. Soruşturma ve kovuşturma sürecinde hukuki hiçbir gerekliliğin yerine getirilmediğini belirttiler.

Eyüboğlu “Müvekkilim görünen görüntülerin toksik gaz olduğu izlenimi verdiğini ancak bunun anlaşılması için bağımsız heyetlerin yerinde ve varsa ölü bedenler üzerinde inceleme yapması gerektiğini söylüyor. Yerinde incelenmeden söz ediyor, durum böyleyken müvekkilimiz ne ile suçlanıyor anlayamıyoruz” diye konuştu.

Mahkeme: Adli tedbirin yetersiz kalacağı anlaşıldığından

Avukatların ardından mütalaasını açıklayan savcı, Korur Fincancı’ya “örgüt propagandası” suçundan üst sınırdan ceza verilmesini istedi.

Avukatlar, mütalaaya karşı söz alarak tutukluluğun devam etmesi için hiçbir hukuki gerekçe olmadığını açıkladı.

Korur Fincancı da “Tutuklu olmak çok zor ama bir insan hakları savunucusu için bulunmaz bir nimet. Biz hep cezaevlerinde inceleme talep ederiz ama izin verilmez. Dolayısıyla devletin kendi eliyle beni oraya koymuş olması kıymetli” diye konuştu.

Mahkeme heyeti, sanığa adli kontrol tedbirlerinin uygulanmasının yetersiz kalacağı iddiasıyla tutukluluk halinin devamına karar verdi. Bir sonraki duruşma 29 Aralık 2022’de görülecek. Korur Fincancı önümüzdeki hafta görülecek bu duruşmaya kadar İstanbul’daki Bakırköy Kadın Cezaevi’nde tutulacak.

21-12-22

Fincancı’ya özgürlük!

PEN Norway Turkey Adviser Caroline Stockford with Prof Fincancı following her acquittal on 17 July 2019 in the Özgür Gündem case

27.10.2022 tarihinde gözaltına alınan Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı’nın ilk duruşması 23 Aralık 2022 tarihinde İstanbul 24. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi’nde görülecek. PEN Norveç duruşma salonunda hazır bulunacak ve bu yargılama sürecini yakından izleyecektir.

İddianamede savcı, Fincancı hakkında “basın yoluyla terör örgütü propagandası yapmak” suçlamasıyla 7 yıl 6 aya kadar hapis cezası talep ediyor.

Bilindiği üzere Fincancı, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri’nin Irak Kürdistan Bölgesel Yönetimi’nde kimyasal silah kullandığı iddialarına ilişkin verdiği bir röportaj nedeniyle tutuklanmıştı. Fincancı röportajında bağımsız bir soruşturmanın gerekliliğini vurgulamış ve kimyasal silah kullanılıp kullanılmadığı konusunda ancak resmi bir adli tıp incelemesinin akabinde yorum yapabileceğini belirtmişti.

Fincancı’nın söz konusu ifadeleri tamamen ifade özgürlüğü kapsamında olmasına rağmen, ne yazık ki, 3713 sayılı Terörle Mücadele Kanunu’nun 7/2. maddesi uyarınca Fincancı terör örgütü propagandası yapmak suçlamasıyla tutuklanmıştır.

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasası’nın 25. maddesine göre herkes düşünce ve kanaat hürriyetine sahiptir. Anayasa’nın 26. maddesi ise düşünceyi açıklama ve yayma özgürlüğünü düzenlemektedir. Ancak Fincancı’nın adli tıp uzmanı olduğu düşünüldüğünde ilgili röportajdaki ifadesinin Anayasa’nın 27. maddesi kapsamında da korunduğu görülmelidir. İlgili düzenlemeye göre herkes, bilimi serbestçe öğrenme ve öğretme, açıklama, yayma ve bu alanlarda her türlü araştırmayı yapma hakkına sahiptir. Tüm bu haklar, Türkiye’nin taraf olduğu ve bağlı bulunduğu uluslararası sözleşmelerle de koruma altına alınmıştır. Bu nedenle Fincancı hakkında iddianame düzenlenmesi ve üstelik tutuklu yargılanması, hem iç hukuk hem de uluslararası hukuk tarafından korunan temel hak ve özgürlüklerinin kısıtlanması anlamına gelmektedir.

Fincancı halen Türk Tabipleri Birliği (TTB) başkanı ve Türkiye İnsan Hakları Vakfı (THİV) yönetim kurulu üyesidir. Fincancı, 1996 yılında Birleşmiş Milletler Uluslararası Savaş Suçları Mahkemesi adına Bosna’nın Kaslesija bölgesindeki toplu mezarlardan çıkarılan cesetlerin otopsisine katılmıştır. Aynı zamanda kendisi, 1999 yılında BM tarafından kabul edilen ve bugün hala işkencenin tespiti için uluslararası standart kılavuz metin olarak kabul edilen İstanbul Protokolü’nün hazırlayıcılarından biridir. Aralarında Hessen Barış Ödülü’nün de bulunduğu onlarca ödüle layık görülen Fincancı, dünya çapında Türkiye’nin önde gelen insan hakları savunucularından biri olarak tanınmaktadır.

PEN Norveç Türkiye Danışmanı, Fincancı’nın gözaltına alınması ve tutuklanmasıyla ilgili olarak “PEN Norveç, hekim ve önde gelen insan hakları savunucusu Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı’ya büyük bir hayranlık duymaktadır ve bu tamamen haksız yargı saldırısı süresince onun yanında olacaktır. Bu apaçık bir ifade özgürlüğü davasıdır. Kendisi Sincan Kapalı Kadın Cezaevi’nden derhal serbest bırakılmalıdır. Biz 23 Aralık’taki duruşmada hazır bulunacağız.”

Fincancı daha önce 2016 yılında ülke çapında düzenlenen bir dayanışma kampanyası sırasında Özgür Gündem gazetesinde konuk editör olarak çalıştığı için Erol Önderoğlu ve Ahmet Aziz Nezin ile birlikte yargılanmıştı. PEN Norveç tarafından izlenen davada 2019 yılında beraat etti. Fincancı aynı zamanda “Barış İçin Akademisyenler” olarak bilinen 2212 akademisyenden biriydi. Türkiye’nin Güneydoğusundaki sokağa çıkma yasağını kınayan ve barış talep eden bir bildiriye imza attığı için yargılanmış ve yargılama sonunda beraat etmişti.

PEN Norveç, Türkiye hükümetini insan hakları savunucularına yönelik yargısal tacize derhal son vermeye ve temel hak ve özgürlüklere saygı göstermeye çağırmaktadır. 23 Aralık’taki duruşmayı izleyeceğiz. PEN Norveç olarak, Fincancı’ya karşı açılan bu davanın derhal beraatle sonuçlanmasını ve Fincancı’nın bir an önce özgürlüğüne kavuşmasını talep ediyoruz.

21-12-22

PEN Norway call for Freedom for Korur Fincancı

PEN Norway Turkey Adviser Caroline Stockford with Prof Fincancı following her acquittal on 17 July 2019 in the Özgür Gündem case.

The first hearing of Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who was arrested on 27.10.2022, will be held on 23 December 2022 at Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court. PEN Norway will be present in the courtroom and will monitor this criminal procedure closely.

In the indictment, the prosecutor demands a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 6 months for Fincancı on the allegation of “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organisation through the press”.

As it is known, Fincancı was arrested for an interview she gave on the allegations that Turkish armed forces used chemical weapons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the interview, Fincancı emphasised the need for an independent investigation and stated that she could only comment on whether chemical weapons had been used after an official forensic examination.

Unfortunately, although Fincancı’s statements in question were entirely within the scope of freedom of expression, she was arrested on charges of disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organisation under Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law No. 3713.

According to Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, everyone has the freedom of thought and opinion. Article 26 regulates the freedom of expression and dissemination of thought. However, considering that Fincancı is a forensic medicine specialist, it should be seen that her statement in the relevant interview is also protected under Article 27 of the Constitution. According to the relevant regulation, everyone has the right to freely learn and teach science, to disclose, disseminate and to carry out all kinds of research in these fields. All these rights are also protected by international conventions to which Turkey is a party and to which it is bound. As such, issuing an indictment against Fincancı and subjecting her to pre-trial detention means restricting her fundamental rights and freedoms, which are protected under both domestic and international law.

Fincancı is still the president of the Union of Turkish Medical Associations (TTB) and a board member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (THIV). In 1996, Fincancı participated in the autopsy of bodies exhumed from mass graves in the Kaslesija region of Bosnia on behalf of the United Nations International War Crimes Tribunal. She is also one of the drafters of the Istanbul Protocol, which was adopted by the UN in 1999 and is still recognised today as the international standard guideline text for the detection of torture. Fincancı, who has received dozens of awards, including the Hessian Peace Prize, is recognised worldwide as one of Turkey’s leading human rights defenders.

PEN Norway’s Turkey Adviser Caroline Stockford said of Fincancı’s arrest and detention:

“PEN Norway greatly admires the chief physician and leading human rights defender Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı and will stand by her side during this utterly uncalled-for judicial attack. This is the clearest case of freedom of expression. She must be freed from Sincan prison forthwith. We will be present at the hearing on the 23rd of December.”

Fincancı was previously prosecuted along with journalist Erol Önderoğlu and academic Ahmet Aziz Nezin for her work as a guest editor at Özgür Gündem newspaper during a country-wide solidarity campaign in 2016. She was acquitted in 2019 in a trial monitored by PEN Norway. Fincancı was also one of the 2212 academics known as “Academics for Peace”. She was prosecuted for signing a petition condemning the curfew in the South-East of Turkey and demanding peace, and was acquitted at the end of the trial.

PEN Norway urge the government of Turkey to immediately end the judicial harassment of human rights defenders and respect fundamental rights and freedoms. On 23rd December we will be monitoring the hearing. As PEN Norway, we demand that this trial against Fincancı be concluded with an immediate acquittal and that Fincancı regain her freedom as soon as possible.

07-11-22

PEN Norway event with Lawyers for Lawyers

On Thursday 4 November at the Law Hub, Amsterdam, Lawyers for Lawyers hosted PEN Norway’s panel discussion on the rule of law and freedom of expression in Turkey.

PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project final reports were the subject of the panel discussion at which lawyers Veysel Ok and Ümit Büyükdağ gave their views on the ongoing crisis in the rule of law in Turkey and reflected on their own indictments in the study.

Chaired by PEN Norway Turkey Legal Adviser, lawyer Ceren Uysal, the panel discussed the reasons for the study of 22 indictments by PEN Norway and in particular the two indictment reports authored by Lawyers for Lawyers’ Jaantje Kramer and Stella Pizzato.

Lawyers for Lawyer’s President, Irma van den Berg made opening remarks, calling the indictment reports, ‘a great project for PEN, Turkey and lawyers.’ She was followed by PEN Netherlands’ Writers in Prison committee member Froukje Santing who highlighted the importance of PEN’s global work, as centres, on freedom of expression, defending writers and journalists and on the rule of law.

When asked by the chair of the panel what it was like defending clients with such flawed indictments as the basis of the case, human rights lawyer, Secretary General of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association and Adana lawyer Ümit Büyüdağ said, “It’s difficult to defend clients if there is no solid legal document in terms of an indictment. We’re at the stage too now, where we are being investigated just for defending our clients. Things we say in their defence in the courtroom become the basis of prosecutions against us.” Speaking of how the PEN Norway indictment reports have been used in Adana she said, “We remind the judges that when European observers are the in room their words and decisions will be translated and transmitted worldwide. We use the indictment reports to train young colleagues and I would like PEN Norway’s reports to be given also to judges and prosecutors.”

Lawyer Veysel Ok spoke about the recent arrests of more than 30 Kurdish journalists in recent months, saying, “We still have to explain to European NGOs that these journalists were only doing their job and that they are not terrorists.” He spoke of Lawyers for Lawyers’ report for PEN Norway on his own indictment as a lawyer in a freedom of expression case, saying, “We added your report to the Constitutional Court application in my case. These reports are also records for the future of what happened in these years in the judicial system in Turkey.” He urged European NGOs to do more in terms of global advocacy and trial monitoring. “We appreciate support from the west,” he said, “but we would like our colleagues to do more. We are giving a very strong fight for democracy and the rule of law here in Turkey every day,” he said.

Chair of the panel, Ceren Uysal asked PEN Norway Turkey Adviser Caroline Stockford to discuss recent hearings she had observed in Turkey, including the recent case against the platform, ‘We will stop the killing of women.’ Stockford bemoaned the lack of political will in Turkey to implement concrete and lasting legal reforms and to ensure the independence of Turkey’s judiciary.

Uysal closed the panel by mentioning PEN Norway’s Gezi Park trial monitoring and forthcoming booklet on 5 years of the Gezi trial which includes interviews with all jailed defendants and will be published in the coming weeks.

01-11-22

PEN Norway interview with Osman Kavala

“Gezi was a great popular movement that stood up against top-down policies and the restrictions of freedoms. Millions of our citizens participated in many cities. This movement did not have a headquarters, nor a brain, but it had a heart, and its heart was the Gezi Park.”

PEN Norway followed all the hearings of the Gezi trial, in which 16 defendants, including lawyer Osman Kavala were tried for “seeking to overthrow the government by force and violence”. On April 25, 2022, already under pre-trial detention, Osman Kavala was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment and other defendants present at the
hearing were sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and arrested in the courtroom. PEN Norway was a firsthand witness to this shocking abuse of the judicial system and is currently conducting a series of interviews
with each imprisoned Gezi defendant.

Five years to the day since his formal arrest on bogus charges of attempting to bring down the state by violent means, PEN Norway interviews the businessperson, human rights defender and founder of Anadolu Kültür, Osman Kavala.

PEN Norway repeats its call for all charges to be dropped against Kavala and for him to be freed from prison without further hesitation. These five years of judicial harrassment and violation of Kavala’s rights to liberty and security must come to an end.

Read the full interview here: PEN Norway interview Kavala_eng

Türkçesini okumak için buraya tıklayınız: PEN Norway soylesi Kavala_tr

PEN Norveç’in Gezi davası tutuklusu Osman Kavala ile söyleşisi:“Gezi ülkemizin birçok şehrine yayılan, özgürlüklerin kısıtlanmasına ve tepeden inme politikalara karşı büyük bir halk hareketiydi.”

PEN Norveç Gezi sanıklarından Osman Kavala ile birlikte 16 sanığın “cebir ve şiddet kullanarak hükümeti devirmeye teşebbüs” suçu ile yargılandıkları Gezi davasının duruşmalarının tamamını takip etti. 25 Nisan 2022 tarihinde halihazırda tutuklu bulunan Osman Kavala ağırlaştırılmış müebbet hapis cezasına çarptırılırken, duruşmada hazır bulunan diğer sanıklar 18 yıl hapis cezasına çarptırıldılar ve mahkeme salonunda tutuklandılar. PEN Norveç yargı sisteminin bu şekilde şok edici bir düzeyde suistimal edilmesine bizzat şahit oldu ve bugün her bir tutuklu sanıkla söyleşi gerçekleştiriyor.

PEN Norveç, şiddet yoluyla devleti yıkmaya teşebbüs etmek gibi düzmece suçlamalarla tutuklanmasının üzerinden beş yıl geçtikten sonra, iş insanı, insan hakları savunucusu ve Anadolu Kültür’ün kurucusu Osman Kavala ile bir söyleşi gerçekleştirdi.

PEN Norveç, Kavala’ya yönelik tüm suçlamaların düşürülmesi ve daha fazla tereddüt gösterilmeden derhal tahliye edilmesi çağrısını yineliyor. Kavala’nın özgürlük ve güvenlik haklarının ihlal edildiği ve beş yıldır süren bu adli taciz sona ermelidir.

28-10-22

PEN Norway & PEN International call for release of Prof Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı

STATEMENT:

Türkiye: Release prominent academic and human rights defender Şebnem Korur Fincancı

28 October 2022 – We, PEN Norway and PEN International, express our extreme concern at the formal arrest yesterday of prominent academic, forensic scientist, and leading human rights defender Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, on charges of disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organisation.

President of the Union of Turkish Medical Associations (Türk Tabipler Birliği – TTB) and board member of the Human Rights Foundation of Türkiye (HRFT), Fincancı was taken into custody on 26 October 2022 in relation to comments made in a live interview on the Medya TV channel regarding the possible use of chemical weapons employed by the Turkish armed forces against members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Fincancı was restrained in her comments to Kurdish media, asking for a full investigation to be carried out and declaring that she could not confirm the use of chemical gas unless she were to make a formal forensic examination.

Fincancı has been arrested on charges of ‘disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organisation’ under Article 7/2 of Anti-Terror Law No. 3713 despite her comments clearly falling under the remit of freedom of expression.

A further case has been lodged to remove Fincancı from her role as President of the Union of Turkish Medical Associations.

There is a clear vendetta against our colleague who has been the subject of protracted judicial harrassment, of late in the Özgür Gündem case in which she and co-defendants Erol Önderoğlu and Ahmet Aziz Nesin are undergoing a retrial for acting as guest editors of the Kurdish daily during a country-wide solidarity campaign in 2016. This is despite the court ruling to acquit all three on 17 July 2019. Fincancı was also one of the ‘Academics for Peace’ where 2,212 academics were signatories of a petition calling for a restart to peace negotiations in the South-east of Türkiye. Fincancı was tried for her participation and acquitted of all charges.

PEN International President Burhan Sonmez said of Fincancı’s arrest: ‘PEN International stands in solidarity with Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı. We urgently call for her immediate and unconditional release, and for all charges against her to be dropped. Her shocking detention and arrest constitute yet another attempt to silence independent voices in Türkiye. We have repeatedly called on the authorities to stop using anti-terrorism laws to target dissenting views and to uphold the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to give and receive information. Şebnem Korur Fincancı should not be prosecuted merely for peacefully expressing her views and must be released at once.’

PEN Norway President Kjersti Løken Stavrum said: ‘We are extremely concerned to hear the news of her formal arrest yesterday for carefully recommending an investigation into a claim concerning the use of chemical weapons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This is the clearest example of the violation of Fincancı’s right to freedom of expression. Fincancı did not make a direct accusation but merely shared a cautious professional opinion in line with her professional role as forensic scientist and President of the Union of Turkish Medical Associations. We will not stand by and allow our colleague to be attacked with false charges and we demand her immediate release and the dropping of all charges against her.’

PEN Norway and PEN International will be following this matter very closely and are in full solidarity with our colleague Fincancı, who is one of Türkiye’s leading human rights defenders. We demand that Fincancı is released from detention immediately and unconditionally, and that all charges are withdrawn.

Media queries

For further details contact:

Caroline Stockford, Türkiye Advisor, PEN Norway: caroline@norskpen.no
Aurélia Dondo, Europe Programme Coordinator, PEN International: dondo@pen-international.org

04-10-22

Trial report: Case of editor Mehmet Gökceli

Cherry-picked evidence in editor’s trial

4 October, 2022

PEN Norway today observed the trial of journalist and editor of Demokrat Haber news site, Mehmet Göcekli at Istanbul’s 27th High Criminal Court.

The Prosecutor alleges that Göcekli disseminated terrorist propaganda over eleven years on his news site Demokrat Haber.

Göcekli’s lawyer, Ceren Kalı, told PEN Norway:

“When you look at my client Mehmet Göcekli’s website you will see that it comprises of a very wide range of reporting that represents a pluralistic view of global news. However, the police have cherry picked a few news items over eleven years of publishing in order to set up a terror propaganda case against him. Had they chosen, instead, the news items shared concerning the ruling AK party, then they would have declared him a supporter of the AKP instead.”

She went on to note that these historic posts had been strung together and called a repetitive crime in order to justify the inclusion of posts over 11 years old which should have fallen outside the time limits for inclusion according to the press law.

The lead judge declared the fact that Göcekli was not present and was living in Germany to be ‘boring’ before continuing to rule that the indictment be translated to German and that Göcekli be permitted to give his statement in Germany.

The case was adjourned until 16 February, 2022 at 11.00 am.

15-09-22

Tag Archive for: Freedom of expression