Journalist Güler Sentenced, another Trial Pending

Journalist Erdal Güler, owner and Editor-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Democracy newspaper ('Devrimci Demokrası'), was sentenced to imprisonment of six months on 3 Feburary. Güler had just been released in October 2010 due to an incorrect notification after he had been in jail for three years on the grounds of alleged praising of the armed outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the clandestine Maoist Communist Party (MKP) in his publications.

The Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court convicted Güler of "making propaganda" for the MKP according to Article 7 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMY) by reason of issue no. 37 published in March 2004. The court initally ruled for a one-year prison sentece and a monetary fine of TL 440 (approx. € 220).

Güler's sentence was then mitigated to six months and TL 366 (approx. € 180). The journalist's lawyer, Ümit Sisligün, told bianet that the sentence has not been finalized yet and that they were going to file an appeal.

Criticizing Ertosun for Medal of Honour accounted for as offence

According to the indictment, Güler "identified people as a target for terrorist organizations" in his writing entitled, "Expert on massacre and isolation receives medal". The journalist had criticized the fact that Ali Suat Ertosun, former Prisons and Arrests Stations General Director, was awarded with the "Medal for Excellent State Service" by the Justice Minister, Cemil Çiçek.

Ertosun was Prisons and Arrest Stations General Director in 2000 when the police violently ended the "death fasts" of hundreds of political prisoners, called the "return to life" operation. The Prisoners had protested against a transfer from large wardens to F-type cells with only 3 or 4 prisoners.

The charges also stem from the articles entitled "Let's lift up the challenge", "Revehale Imam", "Regarding studies on the elections", "Newroz is a heartburn, Buddy!", We will live with the awareness of challenge, not with fear", "Dead soldier Bıra", "Weapons are not being carried as decoration" and "Imam Boztaş was killed by JİTEM in Dersim".

Another trial postponed to April

Also on 3 February, the same court held a session on another case against journalist Güler. Again, he stands accused of "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization". The court allowed additional time for Güler to prepare his defence and decided to adjourn the case to 19 April.

In 2007, the Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court convicted Güler under Article 7/2 of the TMY and handed down a monetary fine of TL 20,000 (approx. € 10,000). However, the referring notification was sent to the wrong address. Thereupon, lawyer Meral Hanbayat appealed against the decision and the court decided to stop the implementation of the sentence.

Güler was released from the Kandıra No. 1 F Type Prison on 26 October. He had been imprisoned since his arrest in 2007. (EÇ/EÖ/VK)