The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the freedom of expression of Ahmet Gemici, a representative of the Labor Party (EMEP), whose bulletins were seized by the police, was violated.

The ECHR sentenced Turkey to pay 1180 euro as compensation.

“Gemici could not know the ban”

Gemici had applied to the ECHR on the grounds that his freedom of expression and right to a fair trial were violated. Gemici’s bulletins were seized and he was not allowed to get a trial open to public.

Gemici was taken into custody for having banned material on the same day the banning and the seizing of the bulletins had occurred. Therefore, the ECHR argued that he had no way knowing that the material he had was banned.

The ECHR sentences are on the rise

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sentenced Turkey to pay 41 thousand euro to Adana’s former prosecutor Sacit Kayasu for restricting his freedom of expression when he made an attempt for the prosecution of retired four-star general Kenan Evren, responsible for the September 12 military coup of 1980.

While Kayasu’s petition as a normal citizen for the same purpose on August 1999 was not answered, the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) had reprimanded him on March 30, 2000 for preparing an indictment regarding Kenan Evren’s prosecution on March 28, 2000.  

Although the latest BİA Media Monitoring Report on October 31 indicated that there was a decrease in the ECHR sentences, the amount ruled in Kayasu’s case shows that the opposite may be the case soon. (EÖ/TB)