Özgür Gündem V. Turkey: Violations of Freedom of Expression

Özgür Gündem V. Turkey: Violations of Freedom of Expression

Kurdish Human Rights Project

Compte d’auteur

Focused as it was on the right to freedom of expression as set out in Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, the case of Ozgiir Giindem v. Turkey serves to highlight the problem of media repression in Turkey and demonstrates the extreme measures which the Turkish Government is prepared to take in order to ensure that the freedom of the Kurdish population to impart and receive information is severely restricted.
The Kurds of Turkey, now numbering more than 15 million, have long been denied basic political, cultural and linguistic rights and their status as a national minority in Turkey has not been recognised. On the contrary, Turkey’s constitution and law are based on the idea that all identities must be subsumed under a single Turkish identity. Official policy denies the separate identity of the Kurds and expressions of Kurdish identity are severely restricted. Anyone who calls for democratic and constitutional rights for Kurds or ...

The Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) is an independent, non-political, nongovernmental human rights organisation founded and based in London, England. KHRP is a registered charity and is committed to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons living within the Kurdish regions, irrespective of racer, religion, sex, political persuasion or other belief or opinion. Its supporters include both Kurdish and non-Kurdish people.