Information Note on the Court’s case-law 43

June 2002

Halis v. Turkey (dec.) - 30007/96

Decision 23.5.2002 [Section III]

Article 10

Article 10-1

Freedom of expression

Journalist sentenced to prison after having reviewed a book written by PKK’s leader in a newspaper: admissible

The applicant worked as a journalist for a daily newspaper, Özgür Gündem . On 2 January 1994 Özgür Gündem published an article he had w ritten, which included the review of a book by Abdullah Öcalan on the situation in south-east Turkey. In July 1994 the Public Prosecutor at the Istanbul State Security Court charged him with dissemination of propaganda about an illegal separatist terrorist organisation, pursuant to Article 7 § 2 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In March 1995 the State Security Court found him guilty and sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment and a fine. The applicant unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Cassation.

A dmissible under Articles 6 § 1 (independence/impartiality) and 10.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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