ECHR Fines Turkey on Freedom of Expression

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has handed Turkey a fine of 540,000 new Turkish liras (USD 400,000) in damages so far this year in legal cases about freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial. The court had fined Turkey 224,000 new Turkish liras (USD 166,000) in similar cases last year.

The ECHR fined Turkey 426,720 new Turkish liras (241,085 Euros, USD 316,100) in damages in the first three months of this year. The ECHR also handed Turkey a fine of 113,120 new Turkish liras (70,700 Euros, USD 84,000) in damages in April-May-June.

Since 2004, Turkey has been fined 764,000 new Turkish liras in damages for violating article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which oversees freedom of expression; article 6/1, which calls for a fair trial; and article 2, which is about not "investigating enough" the deaths of journalists.

19 people won the ECHR cases they brought against Turkey this year

The ECHR ruled this year that Turkey should pay 16,790 Euros in damages to Socialist Party (SP) leader Dogu Perincek; a total of 29,500 Euros to the chief editor Ahmet Ergin and owner Halit Keskin of the Gunluk Emek (Daily Labour) newspaper; 6,000 Euros to writer Mehmet Pamak of the "Selam" newspaper; 9,810 Euros to writer Teslim Tore of "Medya Gunesi" (Media Sun) newspaper; 3,100 Euros to writer Talat Turhan of the book titled "Special War, Terror and Contra-Guerilla;" and 5,500 Euros to editor-in-chief Bulent Falakoglu of the "Yeni Evrensel" (New Universal) newspaper.

In the first three months of the year, the Strasbourg Court ruled that Turkey should pay 20,500 Euros to Omer Agan; 95,000 Euros to Ilkay Adali, the wife of journalist Kutlu Adali, who was killed in northern Cyprus; 7,710 Euros to Necati Taniyan, the owner of the "Yeni Politika" (New Politics) newspaper; 9,500 Euros to teacher Ilknur Birol, who was a member of the Education and Science Workers' Union (Egitim-Sen); 38,000 Euros to former Motherland Party (ANAP) lawmaker Ekrem Pakdemirli; 8,500 Euros to writer Muzaffer Ilhan Erdost, whose book was confiscated; 15,000 Euros to Ismail Karademirci, the head of the Izmır branch of a healthcare union and 24 members; 5,500 Euros to Hasan Dagtekin, who is responsible of the Dilan Publishing House; 9,000 Euros to the former DEP lawmaker Leyla Zana; 3,375 Euros to Atilla Halis, a manager of the "Ozgur Gundem" (Free Agenda) newspaper; a total of 17,000 Euros to Veysel Turhan, the former head of the Siirt head of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) and Hamit Geylani, the former secretary-general.

Turkey paid damages to 17 people in 2004

The ECHR fined Turkey 224,000 new Turkish liras (USD 166,000) in damages in cases brought against the country by Cemil Elden, Zubeyir Ozkaya, Medeni Ayhan, Zeynel Baran, Mehmet Hatip Dicle, Ozkan Kalin, Esref Odabasi, Recep Marasli, Veysi Varli, Huseyin Bora, Mehmet Tekin, Sadik Yasar, Hanifi Yildirim, Zulkuf Aydin, Ertugrul Kurkcu, Ragip Zarakolu and Haluk Gerger, who were all convicted in Turkey for books or speeches. (EO/EA/YE)