European Court of Human Rights

Protest in Turkey: "It is feared a violent reaction"

2013-06-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

In a chat with readers of Monde.fr, Elise Massicard, the French Institute of Anatolian Studies in Istanbul, analyzes the consequences of the events in Turkey.

Borzu Why Erdogan denies he heard the protesters? He treats them as "scum" and seems to ignore what they have to say!

Until now, Erdogan has not listened to the claims raised in the dispute. He had already done so before in other cases. In addition, there are few institutionalized in Turkey that can make these claims hear channels.

Erdogan delegitimize the claims calling people mobilized manipulated by interest groups, foreign forces, or by calling them "vandals" groups.

From his stance, he wants to give the impression of a statesman who knows where it goes and who does not intend to give in to pressure it considers marginal. And mode of action of political protesters, with occupation of public places, yet prohibited allows Erdogan to delegitimize a little more.

Since he was elected with an overwhelming majority, he sees himself as the democratic representation of citizens. Therefore, he did not listen to the claims expressed by non-legally qualified marginal groups that, despite the magnitude of the events.

SonneIn Kreuzberg: This situation does the risk of escalation and explosion of Turkish civil society?

The situation is tense, and trends observed in the polarization. Two points: what's new in the movement that is expressed is that it brings a lot of opinions, different currents: Kemalists (supporters of the authoritarian and strictly secular Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal), the more organizations to the left, pure nationalists, feminists, even Muslims anticapitalist ...

It should be added that many people do not recognize themselves in a particular group, which are quite liberal opinion. But today, there is risk of bursting of the coalition, which is pretty unlikely.

Second point: there is a polarization between those who were mobilized and supported these mobilizations and supporters of the AKP, the ruling party. Polarization with mutual incomprehension because the mainstream media have also déligitimé mobilization, with the risk we've seen in some places clashes between civilians. For example, last Thursday, in a city of the region of the Black Sea, Rize, demonstrators supporting the cause of Gezi sea were attacked by activists of the AKP. Moreover, sporadically in some areas, we have mobilized clashes between groups and against-demonstrations.

TomEkin: Should we fear violent clashes between supporters of the AKP and protesters during rallies under the AKP this weekend?

It is not impossible at all. You should know that currently, we are debating whether to delay these rallies because the tension is palpable. And we have events in cities across the country continue, which are more or less suppressed by location. It is possible that violent clashes occur during these gatherings, or in conjunction with them.

Moks: Do you think that the media exaggerate a little challenge? For proof, no media to tell the tranquility of the place today ...

The mainstream media in Turkey have very little relayed mobilizations and were widely criticized by protesters for it.

Guest: Demonstrations are they really representative of the whole of the Turkish population?

They gave the image of a violent protest. Part of Turkish society is not aware of the magnitude of the challenge. For their part, have mobilized massive appeal to the international media and social networks. The information is also an issue of conflict. In particular, the demonstrations taking place outside of Istanbul are very poorly covered and relayed, both in Turkey and abroad.

Nahas: The Erdogan authority can be challenged within the AKP?

Several officials of the AKP government adopted more conciliatory positions as Erdogan, especially while he was on a diplomatic trip abroad last week. It is difficult to know if it is a division of roles internally or real dissonance. Since the return of Erdogan, his closest advisors reaffirmed their cohesion around it.

David: President Gul seems to take the floor against Erdogan calling for dialogue and calm ...

The differences in approach between Erdogan and Gul are not new. In several cases, when Erdogan adopted a firm attitude, President Gül had a less clear-cut attitude. But several times since the coming to power of the AKP, in times of crisis in particular, the two men agreed and allocated roles.

At the level of discourse and style, Gul, actually, has a conciliatory position. But that did not prevent the enactment last Monday, the impugned legislation which regulates the sale of alcohol. So, the stock level, we do not see real dissonance.

Ersin: The fall of the government is feasible?

One of the slogans chanted during demonstrations and rallies is a call for the resignation of the government. However, this seems unlikely, given that he has not made any concessions so far.

Another hypothesis is that early elections. To date, it also seems unlikely. If elections were held soon, the AKP probably would win. The opposition parties do not have to present sufficient voting power to change the political balance.

Claudio Marraccini: I come from a family of Levantine living in Izmir for over four centuries. Why do European countries and the United States do not condemn most firmly drifts Erdogan that affect individual freedoms?

International pressure is sustained for several days, either side of the leaders of the European Union, the United States and several European countries. On the one hand, critics are bright, especially on police repression of protests. However, different countries may fear the risk of political destabilization in a very complex international environment already, especially in Syria. This was after a meeting with EU officials Erdogan adopted a more moderate discourse, for a time.

The economic dimension is also important. The Istanbul Stock Exchange fell sharply in recent days, and losses in economic terms, in tourism and others are consistent. The government intends to restore the image of Turkey in restoring order.

Alex: What is the position of the military vis-à-vis the islamistion the country army is supposed to be the guarantor of secularism?

The army is largely absent events. No statement was made. In the current state of forces, a military intervention seems unlikely.

Pierre C: Who in the opposition could bring all these ways and form a real opposition to Erdogan?

The BDP, Kurdish nationalist party, is not involved in the demonstrations. It is engaged in the process of settlement of the Kurdish issue in progress, and does not wish to oppose the government.

The Kemalist party, while supporting the mobilization is divided internally between a liberal group and a Turkish nationalist group, and just to capitalize on the protest. For now, the challenge of the last days does not seem to lead to a reconfiguration of the opposition supporter level. It is unclear how the dissatisfaction and demands that were expressed can be relayed in the partisan arena.

KZ: Yesterday demonstrators to express their support to the protesters lawyers were arrested in a completely illegal. One more example of the authoritarian Prime Minister ...

Dozens of lawyers were arrested yesterday in the courthouse, on the grounds they chanted slogans in a public building. They were remanded in custody, and then released. Today, hundreds of lawyers protested against these actions in Istanbul and Ankara.

Lakrymo: Is Erdogan's strategy, which is to finally get a part of the population against another, can work?

Supports Erdogan, in terms of numbers, are more important. On this popular base that relies to assert its leadership and firmness. On several occasions, he said that the minority can not, in a democracy, to impose its will on the majority.

Taf: There is much talk of a "Turkish Spring" in reference to the Arab Spring. But would not you rather see a link between these events and in May 1968 in France?

You can see the similarities: the role of youth in the context of a long-established power, a dispute about the lifestyles, the starting tight enough to claim that expand to demands for more freedoms. All in a more favorable economic environment.

Police disperse protesters gathered in Taksim

2013-06-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

Turkish police evacuated Saturday, June 15 in the evening thousands of protesters occupied the Gezi Istanbul Park, two hours after a new ultimatum Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordering them vacate.

The police entered the park, the bastion of anti-government revolt that shakes Turkey for two weeks, and emptied of all its occupants by firing tear gas grenade. Many tents in which occupants were preparing to spend another night were destroyed during the operation, and arrested several protesters.

Shortly before, the police had evacuated, first with water cannons and tear gas with several protesters who had gathered in Taksim Square, chanting hostile slogans Erdogan. In a speech near Ankara to tens of thousands of his supporters, the prime minister launched in late afternoon a new ultimatum to the occupants of the park, requiring him to vacate the premises by Sunday.

"Stay there has no meaning because the case is now in the hands of justice [...]. I do not know what will be the decision of the court but to slice or against [the maintenance of the park ] there will be a popular vote in Istanbul [...] and we will respect the outcome of the vote, "had said the Prime Minister in particular.

"If brothers are still there, please leave because the park belongs to the people of Istanbul. This is not a busy area for illegal organizations," insisted the head of government. "Nobody can intimidate us, [...] we do not take order or instruction from anyone except God," he shouted to the demonstrators.

On May 31, a violent police intervention in Gezi Park to evacuate opposed to its destruction announced militants escalated into widespread movement of political protest against the Turkish Islamic-conservative government in power in Turkey since 2002.

MEPs say: Expression and media must be free

2013-06-15T03:54:00.001-07:00

MEPs are deeply concerned at the disproportionate and excessive use of force by Turkish police to break up peaceful and legitimate protests in Istanbul's Gezi Park. In a resolution voted by a show of hands on Thursday 13 June, they warn against the use of harsh measures against peaceful protesters and said prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan must take a unifying and conciliatory position.

Those responsible for the police violence must be brought to justice, detained peaceful protestors immediately released and the victims compensated, MEPs say. While welcoming the moderate response to the protests by president Abdullah Gül and apologies by deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc, they deplore the unwillingness of the Turkish government and Mr Erdogan to take steps towards reconciliation, to apologise and to understand the reactions of a segment of the Turkish population.

Inclusive society
The protesters increasingly feel that minority voices lack representation and parts of the Turkish population are dissatisfied with the recent lifestyle regulation, MEPs say. They stress that in an inclusive, pluralistic democracy, the majority has a responsibility to include opposition and civil society in the decision-making process.

The holding of peaceful and legitimate protests in itself testifies to the vibrancy of Turkish civil society but Turkey must further improve its democratic institutions, the rule of law and the observance of fundamental freedoms, MEPs say.

Expression and media must be free
MEPs are also concerned about the deterioration in press freedom, including acts of censorship and growing self-censorship within the Turkish media. Mainstream Turkish media remained silent about the demonstrations and Twitter users were arrested, MEPs note. They stress the importance of an independent press for a democratic society and the role of the judiciary in enhancing press freedom, citing the high number of journalists in prison and on trial.

Eroglu: Annan Plant; Varosha is part of a comprehensive

2013-06-07T06:21:00.002-07:00

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (06.06.13) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has argued that the Annan Plan was not a solution plan for Cyprus and that in the contrary it was a plan which would create unrest. Replying to the questions of Akademi Politik magazine, Eroglu argued that the important thing right now is what has been discussed with the Greek Cypriot side during the ongoing process since 2008.

He noted: "The fundamental issue we put emphasis on is to make an agreement having as starting point the existing realities in Cyprus. Otherwise new areas of conflict will come up and what you call agreement will be returned into a document which creates the ground for conflict".

Replying to a question on the Annan Plan, Eroglu alleged: "The Annan Plan belongs to the past. Of course, it is possible to be benefited from all the documents prepared until today, from all the framework agreements. However, as it is written in the Annan Plan itself, it has ceased to exist because it was rejected by one of the sides in the referendum. In spite of the fact that the current President of the Greek Cypriot Administration Nikos Anastasiades had carried out a 'yes' campaign during the referendum process for the Annan Plan in 2004, now he is in a position of being the main opponent of the Annan Plan. The National Unity Party under my leadership in 2004, had carried out a campaign for the 'no' vote. In my view, the Annan Plan is not a solution plan. On the contrary, it was a plan that would create unrest".

Eroglu alleged that two "states" exist now in Cyprus, even though the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, is recognized only by Turkey and claimed: "No one can change this reality. Two states are living side by side at the moment. We will see. I repeat: A solution is possible having as starting point the existing realities in Cyprus".

Asked to comment on the proposal as regards the return of the occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal Greek Cypriot owners and the opening of the occupied Famagusta port under the auspices of the EU, Eroglu alleged:

"The issue of Varosha has come many times onto the agenda in the one way or the other, but at the moment for us it is an issue that should be included in the comprehensive solution. The view put forward by motherland Turkey on the issue of the opening of the ports is the lifting of the embargo imposed by the Greek Cypriots for a port in the TRNC in return for the opening of a port in Turkey for the Greek Cypriot side. If they come to this point, it will happen, if not, no conclusion could be reached".

Turkish columnists on the Gezi Park protests (ECoHR)

2013-06-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

Various columnists commented on the developments in Turkey during the last few days.
Under the title "The one-man show has ended", Emre Uslu wrote in Zaman (06.06.13):

"[?] the [Justice and Development Party] AKP, particularly in recent years, has adopted a strategy promoting him as the leader of the Muslim world. Strategy has been put in place since Turkey's "one minute" crisis with Israel emphasizing [Recep Tayyip] Erdo an's role as leader and his appeal to the Arab street above all have generated excitement among his followers about his leadership abilities.

It seems the reason the AKP has formulated its strategy around the character of Erdo an is largely to capitalize on the vulnerability of the opposition: its comparatively weaker leaders. Rather than putting issues before the people, AKP strategists bring the charismatic prime minister before them, highlighting the differences between Erdo an and the opposition party leaders. This serves...to the easy manipulation of political discourse to suit the ruling party.

"Turning politics into a one-man show necessitates playing with hot and divisive issues that drive wedges into society. The abortion issue is one such issue, dividing people sharply into two camps: liberals who support abortion and the larger segment of society on the one hand, making up around 70 percent of the population, and conservatives who would join the AKP and Erdo an on the other. By enlivening such issues and using Erdo an's charm to manipulate political discourse the AKP strategists strive to forge a more conservative society and to galvanize those conservative elements around Erdo an... It seems the AKP strategy to build their future around the performance, the outlook, the vision of Erdo an is in fact a fatal strategy, one that not only enhances a perception of Turkey as a conservative nation but is a risk to its wellbeing also. It is a strategy that turns politics into a one-man show.

The protests in Gezi Park in 0 stanbul are just an outcome of this one-man show. The protesters are not particularly against the AKP government, they are not against Abdullah G?l for instance, and there are AKP supporters among them. What they are against is Erdo an and his bossy language in politics.

The nature of the protests indicates that the AKP strategists failed to sees the rising public anger toward Erdo an as they try to promote Erdo an as the one and only true politician. While the AKP strategists underlining there is no alternative to Erdo an, therefore, building their strategy to remove all political alternatives from the scene and keep the opposition weak, the Gezi protests mobilized peoples' anti-Erdo an sentiments.

This is an absolute disaster for Erdo an and his team. They need to alter their strategy. Either they need to carve out a friendlier and welcoming leader who plays the role of Mother Teresa and expect Erdo an to play such a role successfully, or they need to find a new legitimate target for Erdo an to fight against to mobilize the AKP supporters around him one more time. [& ] I think it would not be a mistake to predict: the one-man show has ended." Under the title "The Battle of Taksim and beyond", Burak Bekdil wrote in Hurriyet (05.06.13):

"[& ] Once again, Mr. Erdo an looked amusingly unconvincing when he tagged hundreds of thousands of protesters as "looters, marginal and members of illegal organizations;" or when he blamed nationwide protests on "foreign enemies who envy Turkey." But for the deaf, useful and disposable idiots, Mr. Erdo an once again clarified his understanding of democracy: Dissent is legal only when expressed at the ballot box! (His words).

The past four days were no doubt "scary" for Mr. Erdo an and his men, although one government MP shrugged off the protests, saying "they think they can start a revolution with their drunken heads." Honorable members of parliament; the drunken heads made the headlines all around the world except Turkey where "top news channels" preferred to broadcast cooking programs at the same moments their foreign colleagues were covering the protests in every detail. Self-censorship could not have been exposed better.

The Battle of Taksim was a psychological victory for the protesters. Now they are more confident than before that in the next battle the police will have to kill them, not just spray them with tear gas ? unless of course the police launched a discreet witch-hunt in the days ahead and arrested thousands of dissidents on charges of being members of various unheard of terrorist organizations. We know from his own statements that there is hardly a very thin line between what dissent and terrorism mean to Mr Erdo an. [& ] "On the other hand, one of Erdogan's supporters and assistant, Yalcin Akdogan, who is writing under the pseudonym Yasin Dogan, wrote the following in Yeni Safak (05.06.13) under the title "Opportunists and Fallen Masks":

"Different circles seeking to take advantage of the incidents in Taksim all have different agendas. Everybody wants something different?

On the one hand there are regular people enraged for such reasons as "trees, shopping malls and police violence." [?] On the other hand there is the CHP [Republican People's Party] and its supporters who failed to cope with the government at the ballot box and who are now trying to topple the government by gathering all the marginal elements in a status quo bloc. Among them are illegal organizations known for their actions that verge on terrorism, and for the law and order problems they are creating.

Some are trying to bring down the government, harm it and weaken it. Others are trying to teach the government a lesson or warn it. It can be seen that those who are over-critical of the government, especially just recently, have succumbed to the thrill of "let us slap them a few times while we are at it."

What is really sad about this business is the way certain liberal/left-wing/democrat persons who are criticizing the government for shortcomings in democracy or style and manner, are acting in unison with a bloc that fights against just these ideals and values, and they are applauding them.

Those circles delivering an environmental message or criticizing the government's style did indeed perform a function at one stage of this process. The other stage of this process sees a different band that is trying to bring down the elected government by engaging in political schemes and provocation. They are opposed to the core to the 12 Sept referendum, to the new constitution and to the [Kurd] solution process. This bloc, which is neo-nationalist and to some degree fascist, would drown our veteran democrats in two inches of water given half a chance.

While these veteran democrats are criticizing the government with not being democratic enough and with not taking progressive steps, these neo-nationalist are subjecting the government to flak calling them traitors. It is nothing short of irony to see these two different mindsets working side by side on diametrically opposed pretexts.

All of them are waging a fight at the center of which they have placed Tayyip Erdogan. Some people cannot stand his political existence. Some want to scratch his charisma and rattle him. Those people who are tagging on to the status quo's coattails saying, "They have become large in number, too" are reacting in such a way as to be setting a trap for themselves.

Some of the statements made by Selahattin Demirtas warning his own people plus the warnings made by Devlet Bahceli are the kind that will go down in history. [..]

There are plenty of opportunists with personal interest or seeking to gain political ground by benefiting from all the smoke. They will be noted as a disgrace and a scream.

The CHP for its part is going to pay the price both legally and politically for the damage, the provocation and the plot.

The games of those who want to organize politics by propagating fear are plain for all to see. Let nobody assume that it is not known or understood who is trying to do what, or what kind of underhanded manipulation is being attempted. This affair has removed the masks so that everybody's true face can better be seen."

Police violence the revolt; Occupy Taksim Square

2013-06-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

Tension remained high in Turkey on Wednesday morning on the sixth day of protests against the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Again, thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul and Ankara. Despite the "apology" from the government to victims of police brutality the previous day, thousands of protesters stormed at night Istanbul's Taksim Square, where they chanted slogans calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister. Apologies all necessary that the repression of forces is in the viewfinder.

Indeed, those are the police violence, as thousands of people, led Tuncay Alcpinar to occupy Taksim Square. At age 39, he was a victim of false imprisonment. He spent the year 2011 in detention. Overnight, he was arrested, accused of drug trafficking, and imprisoned twelve months without trial, without any presumption of innocence.

"I had to wait a year in prison. A year there is finally a confrontation in court with a police officer. It happened. He did not even look at me. He just said that n was not me, "testifies to the Turk in Europe one microphone. According to him, the Islamic-conservative power has increased repression. "Since Erdogan (Prime Minister, ed) is in power, it became systematic. They put you in jail. Then they ask you to take care of yourself to prove that you're not guilty. Only not possible, such a system, "laments Tuncay Alcpinar.

For several days, the police are in the viewfinder, accused of brutality against protesters. "You see the events: the police violence hit hard but it always ends up staying in prison violence is psychological And that remains forever.." Said the Turk, told Europe 1. Tuncay Alcpinar is far from alone. It is well aware when discussing with students on the barricades. Too familiar with the problem: more than 2,800 of them are currently in prison in Turkey.

ECHR Rules for sects in tax-exemption cases against France

2013-06-05T13:53:00.002-07:00

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Thursday in favour of three sects, including the Mandarom de Castellane - bringing a judgement against France for violation of freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The decision in Strasbourg invalidated tax procedures brought against the sects, ordering France to pay 3 599 551 euros to the religious association Temple Pyramide, a sect known by the name Mandarom, for "property damage", 387 722 euros to the Evangelical Missionary Church and Eric Salaûn and 36 886 euros to the Chevaliers du Lotus d'or (Knights of the Golden Lotus).

Following tax assessment procedures, the first two groups (both officially dissolved in 1995) were able to recover more than 2.5 million euros and 37 000 euros respectively plus the application of a 60% tax on hand-to-hand gifts that had appeared in their accounts. The third claim was for 280 000 euros on similar grounds.

In all three cases, first brought to the European Court in 2007, the plaintiff associations invoked in particular Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees that "everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." The associations alleged that the taxation of gifts to which they had been subjected infringed upon their right to demonstrate and exercise their freedom of religion.
The parties have three months to request a judicial review by the Grande Chamber for the ECtHR.
See the full judgments (in French):

The Association of the Knights of the Golden Lotus
The Religious Association of the Pyramid Temple
The Evangelical Missionary Church and Salaûn

ECHR 036 (2013) 31.01.2013
Chamber judgments concerning France
The European Court of Human Rights has today notified in writing the following three Chamber judgments1, none of which is final. The judgments are available only in French.
The Religious Association of the Pyramid Temple/Association Cultuelle Du Temple Pyramide v. France (application no. 50471/07)

The Association of the Knights of the Golden Lotus/Association Des Chevaliers Du Lotus D’Or v. France (no. 50615/07)
The Evangelical Missionary Church and Salaûn/Eglise Evangelique Missionnaire et Salaûn v. France (no. 25502/07)
In these three cases the applicants relied, in particular, on Article 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion), alleging that the fact that they had been required to pay tax on hand-to-hand gifts infringed their right to manifest and exercise their freedom of religion.

The Religious Association of the Pyramid Temple is a not-for-profit association which was set up on 3 April 1991 and dissolved on 10 August 1995 and the aim of which was the construction of a place of worship in Castellane (France). The Association of the Knights of the Golden Lotus is a not-for-profit association set up in 1971 and dissolved on 16 September 1995. It was dedicated to the practice of a new religion known as Aumism. Following tax assessment procedures, sums of more than 2.5 million euros and 37,000 euros respectively were recovered from the associations in question, after the tax authorities’ inspection revealed gifts entered in their accounts. When the associations refused to declare the gifts, the authorities automatically imposed a tax rate of 60% in accordance with Article 757 of the General Tax Code, which states that hand-to-hand gifts are subject to gift tax. The associations were also ordered to pay an 80% surcharge.

The applicants in the last case are the association the Evangelical Missionary Church and its president, Éric Salaûn. Following an audit of its accounts and the imposition of tax on the hand-to-hand gifts which this brought to light, the administrative authorities considered that the association could not be classified as a “religious” association for the purposes of claiming the corresponding tax exemptions. The association was therefore obliged to pay more than 280,000 euros (automatic taxation at the 60% rate) to the Treasury.
Violation of Article 9 (in all three cases)

Just satisfaction: EUR 3,599,551 to The Religious Association of the Pyramid Temple, EUR 36,886 to The Association of the Knights of the Golden Lotus and EUR 387,722 to The Evangelical Missionary Church and Salaûn (pecuniary damage), and EUR 49,568 The

Religious Association of the Pyramid Temple, EUR 10,000 to The Association of the Knights of the Golden Lotus and EUR 55,000 to The Evangelical Missionary Church and Salaûn (costs and expenses)

Tracey Turner-Tretz (tel: + 33 3 88 41 35 30)
Céline Menu-Lange (tel: + 33 3 90 21 58 77)
Nina Salomon (tel: + 33 3 90 21 49 79)
Denis Lambert (tel: + 33 3 90 21 41 09)
The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe Member States in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.

Turkey: Erdogan rejects any Turkish Spring

2013-06-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

The clashes resumed on Monday for the fourth consecutive day in Turkey between police and demonstrators opposed to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has denied any authoritarian drift and rejected the possibility of a "Turkish Spring".

In the wake of another night of violence between police and protesters in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir (west) of the incidents included in the afternoon in the Turkish capital, where police dispersed jet grenades tear a group of a thousand people, mostly students and young people, gathered in the city center.

Very sure of himself, the head of government, the main target of the protest, left in mid-day Turkey for a four-day tour in the Maghreb countries by repeating it would not bow facing the street.

"We remain firm (...) calm down, we will go beyond this," said Mr Erdogan to the media. "My country will give its response in this election (note: the 2014 local elections)," he said, confident of its electoral strength, "if we really undemocratic practices, we reverse our nation."

"Yes, we are now in the spring but we will not let him become a winter," he added in reference to the "spring" Arab.

On a more conciliatory tone, Turkish President Abdullah Gul called him Monday to calm the protesters and taken again, the opposite of the head of government.

A democracy does not mean only (a win) elections (...) It is quite natural to express different opinions (...) by peaceful demonstrations, "said Gul to the press.

Since Friday, the protest of a handful of activists against the proposed destruction of an Istanbul public park has gradually gained throughout Turkey.

Accused of authoritarian drift and wanting to "Islamize" Turkish society, Erdogan is now facing a protest movement on an unprecedented scale since the coming to power of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP, from the Islamist movement) in 2002.

On the night of Sunday to Monday, violent incidents have objected to the new police and thousands of demonstrators in Istanbul, around offices Erdogan in Ankara and in the residential area of Kavaklidere, where protesters chanted "Nobody wants you Tayyip!".

Police Brutality

Sunday, the Turkish police also dispersed unceremoniously several events in Izmir (west), Adana (south) or Gaziantep (south-east), making whenever many wounded. Many protesters cited by Turkish television denounced the brutality of police.

The violence of the last three days have been over a thousand injured in Istanbul and at least 700 in Ankara, organizations defending human rights and doctors' unions in both cities.

These figures have not been confirmed by the authorities, the Minister of the Interior Muammer Güler Sunday citing a review of 58 civilians and 115 police injured during the 235 events recorded since last Tuesday in 67 cities.

According to Güler, the police had arrested more than 1,700 demonstrators Sunday in the country, most quickly released.

Symbolic heart of the uprising, the Taksim Square Monday regained a semblance of normalcy. By mid-afternoon, only a few hundred people, including tourists, are strolling in the sun.

Most shops have reopened but barricades still blocking the surrounding streets, a sign of the determination of protesters do not get back control of the place by the police, who deserted on Saturday order government.

In the morning, about 3,000 people marched several kilometers away, outside the headquarters of Dogus Media Group, to denounce the "submission" in the Turkish press, accused of failing to realize the extent of the protest.

The brutality of the repression has been heavily criticized, both in Turkey and in foreign countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom or France.

Even within the government, several dissenting voices were heard to lament the brutality of the police action. As Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, who advocated dialogue "rather than pulling the gas on people."

The Prime Minister acknowledged that "mistakes" had been made by the police and promised sanctions against its excesses. But he repeated that he would lead the urban development project challenged from Taksim Square to the end. And as a challenge to the demonstrators, added Sunday that there would build a mosque.

Taksim Square - Turkey Spring; Violent clashes in Istanbul

2013-06-01T09:27:00.001-07:00

The tension rose a notch in the night. Turkish police used tear gas Saturday morning near the Taksim Square in central Istanbul to disperse hundreds of protesters in second day of violent protests against the Turkish government..

Other incidents reported to Besiktas

After a long face-to-face with protesters who held a barricade in the Istiqlal Avenue, a pedestrian shopping street that leads to Taksim Square, the police fired a volley of tear gas to disperse the crowd . Other incidents were reported earlier in the morning in the Besiktas district, where a group of protesters came from the Anatolian side of the Turkish metropolis crossed a bridge over the dam and was dispersed by the police, Turkish media reported.

The protest, one of the largest directed against the Islamic-conservative power since taking office in 2002, is part of a demonstration against an urban development project challenged in Istanbul and several dozen wounded dozens Friday in Istanbul.

By late morning, the main roads leading to Taksim Square were barred by large police forces. After a day and a night of riots, this place famous for being one of the traditional appointment of protest in Istanbul, and the surrounding streets were littered with debris Saturday morning and shops have reopened their doors very carefully to residents and tourists. Dozens of protesters were injured in clashes on Friday, citing Amnesty International for its part "over a hundred" injured.

Political protest

The authorities gave no accurate count. Friday late afternoon, the governor of the city Huseyin Avni Mutlu merely indicate that 12 people remained hospitalized late in the day, including a woman who has a fractured skull, and at least 63 people were arrested.

The movement began Friday at dawn with the forceful intervention of the police to dislodge a few hundred activists who had occupied for three days Gezi Park in Taksim Square, in order to prevent the uprooting of 600 trees as part of an urban development project highly contested.

Rioted through social networks, community activists flocked to lend a hand to protesters and denounce the policy of the Islamic-conservative government in power since 2002. The clashes continued until dawn. "The trees, it's just the straw that broke the camel's back. People are sick and tired of everything this government is doing to them, "said the night a young protester.

By Friday evening, the challenge side of Istanbul has spread to other cities, such as Izmir (west), Antalya (south) or the capital Ankara, which are incident between the police to demonstrators who wanted march on parliament. Everywhere, the protesters denounced the repression in Istanbul and accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of violations of civil liberties.

Erdogan accused of trying to "Islamize" Turkish society

The political opposition has taken over these criticisms by flaunting the protesters. The chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main rival of the government, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Erdogan called the police to withdraw the streets of Istanbul. At the call of social networks and the CHP, a protest is planned for Saturday afternoon on the Asian side of Istanbul.

If the per capita income has tripled in Turkey since the coming to power of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002, Erdogan is accused of authoritarian excesses and wanting to "Islamize" Turkish society. Last week, the passing of a law restricting the sale and consumption of alcohol has raised the ire of liberal circles. Silent on these events since Friday, the head of the government said on Wednesday it would not back down. "Do what you want, we decided," he shouted to his critics.

A Reyhanli, Retaliation Against Syrian Refugees

2013-05-25T14:58:00.006-07:00

Turkey was hit by a double attack on May 11 in the city of Reyhani, which hosts many Syrian refugees. For the latter, it became almost impossible to cope with the resentment of the population.

In the moments following the explosion of the first car on May 11, 2013, people rushed to the central square of Reyhanli to help the wounded. That's when the second car exploded. "Fifteen men died before my eyes," says Kasseim, 26, ran the Syrian Center for Media, where his office is located.

Many residents then fled, believing that they were bombs coming from the other side of the border. When they returned to the scene, he says, armed with knives, belts and people were attacking the Syrians even though they helped out victims from the rubble.
The people of Reyhanli are angry and their reaction is justified. The two explosions killed 46 people and injured more than 100. They ravaged the city center, destroying countless shops and offices. Of the 60,000 inhabitants of the city, there are few who have not been affected by the enormous human and material losses they have caused.

Internationally, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, attributed the attack to agents of the regime of Bashar Assad, while Damascus rejected the accusation by criminalizing terrorist groups. But Reyhanli, anger towards other players. Many people blame the government for provoking the attacks by supporting Syrian rebels and show the media the finger.

Some refugees prefer to return to Syria

However, some people, the main culprits are the many Syrians who, seeking refuge in the city to escape the atrocities of the other side of the border, have pushed the regime of Bashar al-Assad to take targeted .
More >>>

Russia Calls for Calm on Tense Turkish-Syria Border

2013-05-23T14:46:00.002-07:00

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has urged restraint between Turkey and Syria, calling for calm on the tense Turkish-Syrian border.
“We believe both Syrian and Turkish authorities should exercise maximum restraint in this situation, taking into account the rising number of radicals among the Syrian opposition who can intentionally provoke conflicts on the border," said Gatilov on Tuesday.

Gatilov also warned NATO and world powers not to seek ways to intervene in the Syrian war or set up buffer zones between opposition and government forces.

“In our contacts with partners in NATO and in the region, we are calling on them not to seek pretexts for carrying out a military scenario or introducing initiatives such as humanitarian corridors or buffer zones," Gatilov said, according to the Interfax news agency.

Turkey has floated the idea of setting up "safe zones" inside Syria to protect civilians.

Ankara has repeatedly complained of artillery and gunfire spilling over its border, and last week signaled it would take action if there were a repeat of a mortar strike on its territory from inside Syria.
More >>>

Iraq Tells Turkey to Stop Pursuing PKK Terrorists Over Border

2013-05-23T14:46:00.001-07:00

Iraq asked Turkey on Tuesday to stop attacking terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) sheltering across the border in northern Iraq, as Turkey prepares to extend its internal mandate for the raids.
The Baghdad government's power over Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region is limited, but the comments are an indication of tensions with Turkey, which has given refuge to Iraq's fugitive vice president.

The Turkish government on Monday asked parliament to renew the mandate, expiring on Oct. 17, under which it has mounted mostly aerial raids on the PKK bases in Iraq's Kurdish region. Parliament is due to discuss it on Thursday.

"The cabinet objects to this motion, which contradicts the principle of good neighbourly relations," Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said in a statement.

"It rejects the presence of any foreign bases or troops on Iraqi territory and the incursion of any foreign military forces into Iraqi lands on the pretext of hunting down rebels," he added, complaining of a "violation of Iraqi sovereignty and security".

He said the cabinet had advised parliament to cancel or refuse to renew any pre-existing agreements that would permit foreign states to enter Iraqi territory.
More >>>

ECHR; Ümit Diriöz Turkey (No: 38560/04)

2013-05-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

The fact that the prosecutor stood on a raised platform in the courtroom did not infringe the principle of equality of arms.
In today’s Chamber judgment in the case Diriöz v. Turkey (application no. 38560/04), which is not final1, the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been:
No violation of Article 6 §§ 1 and 3 (c) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The case concerned the complaint by an accused that there had been an infringement of the principle of equality of arms in so far as the prosecutor stood on a raised platform whereas he and his lawyer had been placed, as was the rule, at a lower level in the courtroom. The Court considered that whilst this conferred a privileged physical position on the prosecutor in the courtroom, it did not place the accused in a disadvantageous position regarding the defence of his interests. The Court also reiterated that neither the letter nor the spirit of Article 6 of the Convention prevented a person from waiving of his or her own free will the right to legal assistance during police custody.

Principal facts
The applicant, Ümit Diriöz, is a Turkish national who was born in 1977 and is currently being held in Bayrampaşa Prison in Istanbul (Turkey). On 9 September 2000, during an altercation between several individuals, he fired a pistol several times. Four people were injured and a fifth, who had had nothing to do with the altercation, was hit by a stray bullet and subsequently died. On 12 October 2000 the public prosecutor issued an arrest warrant against Mr Diriöz, who had fled.
On 14 January 2001 Mr Diriöz was arrested while in possession of a forged identity card and placed in police custody. The custody report signed on that day indicated that he had been informed, among other things, of his right to legal assistance. In his statement drawn up on 16 January 2001 Mr Diriöz ticked the box “I do not wish to be assisted by a lawyer”.
More >>>

Deficiencies in effective access to justice in Turkey

2013-05-23T05:56:00.000-07:00

Broad laws against terrorism and threats to the state, political pressure, and inadequacies in the judicial system limited access to justice, as did lengthy pretrial detention and lack of transparency in the prosecution of cases related to state security.
The time lag between arrests and presentation of indictments; leaks of information, evidence, or statements; restricted defense access to evidence put forward by the prosecution; and the secrecy of the investigation orders also fueled concerns about the effectiveness of judicial protections for suspects.

The close connection between prosecutors and judges gave the appearance of impropriety and unfairness in criminal cases, while the broad authority granted to prosecutors and judges contributed to inconsistent and uncertain application of criminal laws.

During the year the government adopted judicial reforms to speed up and improve judicial processes.
More >>>

Pentagon: The Turks made the call (Uludere)

2013-05-23T02:57:00.000-07:00

ULUDERE: U.S. military officers at the Fusion Cell in Ankara couldn't tell whether the men, bundled in heavy jackets, were civilians or guerrilla fighters. But their location in an area frequented by guerrilla fighters raised suspicions. The Americans alerted their Turkish counterparts.

Turkey—After winding along a narrow mountain ridge, a caravan of 38 men and mules paused on the Turkish-Iraqi border. Then they heard the propellers overhead. Minutes later, Turkish military aircraft dropped bombs that killed all but four of the men.

The strike in late December was meant to knock out Kurdish separatist fighters. Instead it killed civilians smuggling gasoline, a tragic blunder in Turkey's nearly three-decade campaign against the guerrillas. The killings ignited protests across the country and prompted wide-ranging official inquiries.

The civilian toll also set off alarms at the Pentagon: It was a U.S. Predator drone that spotted the men and pack animals, officials said, and American officers alerted Turkey.

The U.S. drone flew away after reporting the caravan's movements, leaving the Turkish military to decide whether to attack, according to an internal assessment by the U.S. Defense Department, described to The Wall Street Journal. "The Turks made the call," a senior U.S. defense official said. "It wasn't an American decision."

The U.S. role, which hasn't previously been reported, revealed the risks in a new strategy for extending American influence around the globe. It raises an outstanding question for the White House and Congress: How far do we entrust allies with our deadly drone technology?
More >>>

Koç and Demir Turkey (26793/08)

2013-05-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

Koç and Demir v. Turkey (no. 26793/08). The applicants, Coşkun Koç and Turgay Demir, are Turkish nationals who were born in 1972 and 1977 respectively and live in Istanbul.

At the relevant time they were respectively a non-commissioned officer and a sergeant in the armed forces. On different dates they were placed in detention as a disciplinary measure. They complain that those sanctions were imposed by their military hierarchy and not by an independent and impartial tribunal. They rely on Articles 5 (right to liberty and security), 6 (right to a fair hearing) and 13 (right to an effective remedy).

C.A.S. and C.S. Romania (26692/05)

2013-05-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

The applicants, C.S. and C.A.S., father and son, are Romanian nationals who were born in 1954 and 1990 respectively and currently live in Iasi (Romania).

The case concerns C.A.S.’ complaint that it took the authorities seven years to investigate his repeated raped by a man, eventually acquitted, who forced his way into the family flat when he came home alone from school in a period from January to April 1998. C.A.S., 7-years’ old at the time, alleges in particular that the violent sexual abuse to which he was subjected was of such gravity that it amounted to torture, and that the proceedings were slanted, the domestic courts blaming his parents, and to a certain extent him, for not reacting sooner.

He relies on Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment), Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair trial) and Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life and the home). Both applicants further complain under Article 8 that their family life was destroyed and that they were forced to leave the town in which they lived to rebuild a normal life.

Arseniev, Republic of Moldova (10614/06)

2013-05-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Arseniev v. Republic of Moldova (nos. 10614/06 and 10620/06)
The applicant, Igor Arseniev, is a Moldovan national who was born in 1959 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence for murder in a prison in Chişinău.

Relying on Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights, he complains about the inhuman conditions of his detention since 2003, notably on account of severe overcrowding, quantity and quality of food and hygiene.

He alleges in particular that, detained in those conditions for up to 23 hours per day, his psychiatric health has suffered. Further relying on Article 6 (right of access to court), he also complains that the courts refused to examine a number of civil proceedings he had brought notably against the prison authorities as he could not pay the court fees and that his appeal in cassation in the criminal proceedings against him was rejected as it had not been typed.

He also alleges under Article 6 that his lawyer in the criminal proceedings had not properly represented him.

Key to solving the Syrian impasse: Russia

2013-05-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Turkey is preparing to host the second Friends of Syria meeting on April 1, following the first one in Tunisia, as the situation in its neighbor -- with which it shares an 877-kilometer-long border -- continues to be in complete “deadlock.” Just like the overwhelming majority of the Syrian people, Turkey has exhibited a strong will that Bashar al-Assad must leave the wheel of the country, but no significant option for how this can be done has emerged so far.

The fragmentation in the international community is bestowing extra life on the Assad regime, but also causing dozens of people to die every day. The death toll has already exceeded 8,000 according to United Nations statistics. The Syrian opposition, on the other hand, claims this number to be above 11,000. And the Assad regime says more than 2,000 security troops have died. In addition to deaths, there have also been increasing human rights violations and displacement of populations. Moreover, thousands of people are reported to have gone missing after they were arrested by Assad's troops. Currently, about 250,000 people have been displaced within the country while at least 30,000 people have sought shelter in neighboring countries.
More >>>

The death brings the micro loans in India

2013-05-21T14:25:00.003-07:00

First belongings, furniture, televisions sold after the jewels are gone. Some of them drank, some pesticides, a woman threw herself into the lake with someone else jumped in with their children. Debts of more than 200 due to the poor, committed suicide in 2010.

South India, at first, like a drug poisons emitted into micro-loans. Received a very poor part of the public debt with low interest ödeyememesi fatal.

SKS is a market leader in India in the 7 person company killed himself in the news throughout the country brought up to fear of death.

Burkacak the hearts of the kind happened. Micro-credit unable to repay the debt before the daughter of a woman SKS'den forced into prostitution and then afterwards committed suicide by drinking pesticide.

Women had a debt of 150 thousand rupees, ie, three thousand dollar loan and pay 600 rupees per week, ie 12 dollars. A girl in school loans to pay off student unable to pay 150 rupees, and the three-dollar room joined the trend of suicides.

Turkish air strike killed 36 civilians

2013-05-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

The deaths of 36 people, who may have been locals smuggling in goods from northern Iraq, killed in an overnight airstrike by Turkish warplanes in southeastern Turkey have led to doubts about the intelligence sources on which the military relied before conducting the operation.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Çelik held a press conference Thursday evening, saying the incident was the result of an “operational accident” that was caused by a mistake or intelligence failure. He said both a legal and an administrative probe were underway to name those responsible for the deadly error. “If there was a mistake, it will not be covered up in any way and the necessary legal action will be taken.”

A statement from the Şırnak Governor's Office said 35 people were killed and another was injured in the airstrikes. However, hospital records indicate a death toll of 36.

The Turkish military released a statement Thursday that said the area struck was the Sinat-Haftanin region of northern Iraq, where the primary Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases are located and where there are no civilian inhabitants.

“Administrative and judicial investigations are underway and procedures are being followed with respect to the incident,” the General Staff said.
More >>>

ECHR; Veli İsmail Altınok

2013-05-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

The applicant, Veli Ismail Altınok, is a Turkish national who was born in 1981 and lives inAdana. He was arrested on 12 April 2007 following a complaint alleging fraud andforgery. After being brought before the criminal court he was placed in pre-trialdetention. Relying on Article 5 § 4 (right to take proceedings to have the lawfulness ofdetention decided speedily by a court), he alleges that the lodging of an objection andthe procedure for automatic review of detention are ineffective. He also complains thatthe Assize Court did not give adequate reasons for ordering his continued detention anddismissing his objections. Relying on Article 5 § 5 (right to compensation), he complainsthat he did not have an effective remedy by which to obtain compensation. Altınok v. Turkey (no. 31610/08)

Europe May Turn Back 1930

2013-05-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Europe Human Right Court President Jean-Paul Costas incumbency ends at this month. He has been chairing for 13 years. He talked about future of court, Europe, European Union, economic crisis damages to human rights.
According to Kayhan Karaca, reporter of ntvmsnbc.com, Jean Paul Costa is anxious about Europe future.

"We have two possible script view of geopolitical. First script is disaster. Those events at 1930's may repeat today (In Europe). Very serious economic and social crisis, unemployment, authoritarian regimes capture the competence and war. League of Nations demolishes and the passing from the peace to the war and the passing from international organizations to gunfight. This is the script of disaster. We can think these possibilities will repeat. All conditions are available. But although I think international society will resist despite these conditions and the peace will resist to the war. But the fact that we will live hard conditions is real. Climbing over economic crisis which begin 3 years ago will attend during long years. But I don't think script of disaster is inevitable" Costa said.

Turkey bombed military targets in Syria

2013-05-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Turkey's military struck targets inside Syria on Wednesday in response to a mortar bomb fired from Syrian territory which killed five Turkish civilians, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's office said in a statement.

Our armed forces in the border region responded immediately to this abominable attack in line with their rules of engagement; targets were struck through artillery fire against places in Syria identified by radar, the statement said.

"Turkey will never leave unanswered such kinds of provocation by the Syrian regime against our national security," it added.

Davutoğlu had also agreed with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on the need for an emergency meeting of NATO members, the statement said.

A mortar bomb fired from Syria landed in a residential district of the southeastern Turkish town of Akçakale on Wednesday, killing a woman and four children from the same family and wounding at least 13 other people.

A cloud of dust and smoke rose up over low-rise buildings as residents ran to help the wounded. Others, infuriated by the increasing spillover of violence from Syria's civil war, took to the streets shouting protests against the local authorities.

Davutoğlu phoned UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to brief him about the incident and also spoke with senior military officials and Syria crisis mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, his ministry said in a statement.

Davutoğlu signaled over the weekend that Turkey would take action if there was a repeat of a mortar strike which damaged homes and workplaces in Akçakale last Friday.

"It (latest mortar round) hit right in the middle of the neighbourhood. The wife and four children from the same family died," Ahmet Emin Meşhurgül, local head of the Turkish Red Crescent, told Reuters, adding he knew the victims personally.
More >>>

ECHR; President Jean Paul Costa (France)

2013-05-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

Born on 3 November 1941 in Tunis
Diploma of the Institute of Political Studies of Paris, 1961
Master of Law, Faculty of Law, Paris, 1962
Diploma of Superior Studies (post-graduate), Public law, 1964
Former pupil of the ENA (Ecole nationale d’administration), 1964-66
Auditeur at the Conseil d’Etat, 1966
Rapporteur at the judicial section of the Council of State, 1966-1971, 1977-80, 1987-89, assessor of sub-section (chamber), judicial section of the Council of State, 1989-93
Directeur du cabinet (political secretary) of the Minister of Education (Alain Savary), 1981-84
Associate professor, Universities of Orléans, 1989-98 and Panthéon-Sorbonne, 1992-98
President of sub-section, judicial section of the Council of State, 1993-98
Judge of the European Court of Human Rights since 1 November 1998
President of Section since 1 May 2000
Vice-President of the Court since 1 November 2001
President of the Court since 19 January 2007.