EMHRN calls for the immediate release of falsely accused Turkish HR activists

 Copenhagen-Brussels, nov 4 2011–The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) condemns the arbitrary arrest of Human Rights defenders Ragib Zarakolu and Büşra Ersanlı, both falsely charged with “being a member of an illegal organisation”, the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK).


On 28 October, 2011, Turkish authorities raided several offices of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in the province of Istanbul and arrested prominent Human Right activists Ragib Zarakolu and Büşra Ersanlı, together with some fifty other people, mainly members and executives of the BDP.

Turkish Publisher Detained / Ragip Zarakolu Arrested in Crackdown on Kurdish Groups

By: Steven M. Ellis, Press Freedom Adviser

Riot police use shields to protect themselves as they clash with Pro-Kurdish demonstrators during a peace day rally on the Asian side of Istanbul on 1 September 2011. Photo: REUTERS/Osman Orsal

VIENNA, 3 Nov. 2011 – The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the arrest and pre-trial detention of Turkish publisher and free speech activist Ragip Zarakolu.

Zarakolu – director of the Belge Publishing House, a member of the Turkish PEN Center and chair of the Freedom to Publish Committee of the Turkish Publishers Association – was among approximately 40 suspects detained Friday under anti-terror laws.

Turkish intellectuals protest arrest of publisher

Vercihan Ziflioğlu

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

A group of intellectuals and academics protested Ragıp Zarakolu’s arrest. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

A group of intellectuals staged a rally in front of the Beşiktaş Courthouse yesterday to protest the recent arrest of prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu and Professor Büşra Ersanlı on terrorism-related charges, while international organizations also condemned the arrests.

Arbitrary detention of Mr. Ragip Zarakolu and Ms. Büsra Ersanli - TUR 003 / 1111 / OBS 121

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in

Turkey. Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary detention of Mr. Ragıp Zarakolu, Honorary Board Member and Founder of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Director of the Belge Publishing House and Chairman of the Publishers Association Freedom to Publish Committee of Turkey, and Ms. Büsra Ersanlı, lecturer at the Marmara University Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations in Istanbul, in the framework of a wide ranged anti-terrorist operation intended to dismantle an alleged terrorist network - the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) - that in fact targets peaceful activists from the Kurdish community who are not related to any terrorist activities.

Turkey: Arbitrary detention of Mr Ragıp Zarakolu and Ms. Büşra Ersanlı

URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY

TUR 003 / 1111 / OBS 121

Arbitrary detention / Judicial harassment

Turkey

November 3, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Turkey.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary detention of Mr. Ragıp Zarakolu, Honorary Board Member and Founder of the Human Rights Association (İHD), Director of the Belge Publishing House and Chairman of the Publishers Association Freedom to Publish Committee of Turkey,and Ms. Büşra Ersanlı, lecturer at the Marmara University Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations in Istanbul, in the framework of a wide ranged anti-terrorist operation intended to dismantle an alleged terrorist network - the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) - that in fact targets peaceful activists from the Kurdish community who are not related to any terrorist activities.

Turquie: Un pionnier de la liberté de publier en prison jusqu'à nouvel ordre

Info Collectif VAN - www.collectifvan.org - Le Collectif VAN vous propose ce Communiqué de Presse publié sur le site des Reporters Sans Frontières le 2 novembre 2011.

Reporters Sans Frontières

Turquie

Publié le mercredi 2 novembre 2011.

“La justice turque est donc bien décidée à faire payer Ragip Zarakolu (voir ci-dessous) pour son activisme en faveur de la liberté d’expression. Journaliste de renommée internationale et figure respectée de la lutte pour les droits de l’homme, il est à son tour victime des travers récurrents de l’appareil judiciaire : le détournement de l’argument ‘antiterroriste’ pour réprimer les voix critiques, et le recours abusif à la détention provisoire. Le placement en détention d’un personnage de cette envergure, alors même que sa santé est fragile, est un très mauvais signal à l’égard de la presse. Nous exigeons sa remise en liberté immédiate”, a déclaré Reporters sans frontières.

EFJ Condemns Arrest of Ragıp Zarakolu as New Press Freedom Campaign is Launched in Turkey

The European group the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the arrest of Ragıp Zarakolu, Turkish columnist and writer.

"The arrest of a journalist and well-known intellectual under the pretext of terroristic activities is clearly arbitrary and abusive," said EFJ President Arne König. "It shows how eager the government is to muzzle any critical voice by using anti-democratic methods. Unless there is clear evidence showing the allegations of the Turkish authorities, we call for the immediate release of Mr. Zarakolu and of all other Turkish journalists currently detained in jail".