09.10.2002 - Source: European Commission

European Commission: Modifications of the press law ("2002 Regular Report on Turkey's Process Towards Accession") [#10217],  [ID 13335]

"As regards freedom of the press, the first “reform package” amended Article 8 of the
Anti-Terror Law. Fines for publishers found guilty of offences of "terrorist propaganda"
were increased from a minimum TL 100 million to a minimum TL three billion.
The second “reform package”, which contained modifications to the Press Law, did little
to ease restrictions on the freedom of the press. It introduced the possibility to confiscate
the printing equipment of publications found to be acting against the basic principles of
the "integrity of the nation, republican order, or the country’s national security". The
maximum suspension for a publishing company found guilty of such offences has been
shortened, as has the maximum length of imprisonment for those who continue to publish
suspended periodicals.
The third “reform package” further modified the Press Law by replacing prison sentences
for crimes related to the press with heavy fines. The high level of the newly introduced
fines (which range from TL one billion to a TL 100 billion) prompted President Sezer to
ask the Constitutional Court, on 14 August 2002, to abrogate these amendments. The
amount of the fines was described as disproportionate and in contradiction with the
constitutional principles of freedom of the press and dissemination of thought.
The grounds for imposing penalties were not modified and the Press Law continues to
maintain restrictions on the freedom of the press. Members of the press corps are subject
to pressure and censorship, and many face prosecutions. Journalists have been prosecuted
on the grounds of Articles 7 and 8 of the Anti-Terror Law as well as Articles 159 and 169
of the Turkish Penal Code.
In provinces under the state of emergency the authorities made use of the right to forbid
distribution and printing of newspapers and other publications.
The independence of the press is weakened by the absence of an organised press union.
In July 2002 the ban introduced in December 2000 on broadcast and media publications
concerning the F-type prisons and the hunger strikes was lifted."

Document(s): Open document

09.10.2002 - Source: European Commission

European Commission: High Audio Visual Board (RTÜK) Law on broadcasting ("2002 Regular Report on Turkey's Process Towards Accession") [#10217],  [ID 13336]

"Parliament adopted some 45 new laws including the new Civil Code (1030 articles) and
the three ‘reform packages’ implementing the 2001 constitutional amendments.
Parliament also re-adopted without change two laws that had been vetoed earlier by the
President, namely the law on conditional release of prisoners and the High Audio Visual
Board (RTÜK) Law on broadcasting. The latter law was subsequently amended as part of
the third reform package of August 2002."

Document(s): Open document