International Observers Follow Trial against Human Rights Advocator

The President of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, and the General Publications Director of the news site GercekGundem.com, Barış Yarkadaş, are facing imprisonment of up to 2.5 years each on the grounds of an interview made with Fincancı and published by Yarkadaş. The trial is based on charges of insult was continued on 18 June.

The hearing at the 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance of Kadıköy (Asian side of Istanbul) was attended by international observers, namely Eric Osvik from the Human Rights Committee of the Norwegian Bar Association, and independent representative of the Kurdish Human Rights Project based in London, law Prof. Matthew Happold from the Luxembourg University.

Birgen subject to 16 investigations

The hearing was attended by defendant Yarkadaş, Fincancı's attorneys Meriç Eyüboğlu  and Suleyman Anıl and complainant Birgen's lawyer Tanıl Başhan. A warrant regarding Birgen had previously been sent to the Istanbul Medical Chamber. The chamber's reply to the warrant was read out during the hearing. It stated that a total of 16 investigations had been opened into the work of Birgen.

The court requested absent complainant Birgen to attend the coming hearing on 30 September 2010.

Trial observations included in Human Rights Report

After the hearing, international observer Happold said that he was going to present his impressions about the trial in a report.

The bone of contention

The news site GercekGundem.com carried out an interview with Fincancı on 22 July 2009 after a number of controversial decisions made by the Forensic Medicine Institute. Fincanı said:

"Why was Birgen made the head of the 3^rd Specialization Chamber? This is not a scientific area where she is established. [...]It probably was a reward for her loyalty! There are investigations about reports made by the Medical Chamber Honor Council concerning torture because evidence of torture was hidden. Those reports probably gained her positive points on her record."

Birgen filed the complaint after this interview. The case was opened against Fincancı and Yarkadaş under charges of "insulting a public official via the media because of his/her duty". (BT/VK)