Vision-impaired journalist, under arrest for 7 months, denied access to Braille books in prison
Date posted: February 7, 2018
Visually impaired Turkish journalist Cüneyt Arat, under arrest over alleged ties to the Gulen movement since July, last year, has said in a letter that he was denied access to Braille books as well as audio-described movies.
Arat was sentenced on Feb. 22, 2017 to 6 years 3 months in prison on charges of membership to the Gülen movement while also getting 10 months and 15 days of jail time for promoting a “terrorist” organization. He was put behind bars after an upper court upheld one of his convictions, on July 10, 2017.
“They have yet to give me my Braille books, audio-described movies and my talking clock,” said a script from his letter, published on his Twitter account on Feb 3.
Arat said he has 90-percent vision loss and that he had someone else to type the letter for him.
Prep school transformation plan violates Constitution, experts say
DERVİŞ GENÇ, İSTANBUL A government plan to shut down Turkey’s prep schools — or “transform” them, as the government argues — violates the Turkish Constitution and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), according to experts. “Parliament can neither close the prep schools with a law nor force them to transform. […]
General Staff ordered broadcasting of anti-Gülen recordings
Journalist Mehmet Ali Birand has claimed that the General Staff ordered the broadcasting of anti-Fethullah Gülen audio recordings by some TV stations in the run up to the Feb. 28, 1997 unarmed military intervention.
Turkish official says 252 companies seized over Gülen links
The companies are alleged to be connected to the Gülen movement, a civic initiative based in Turkey, with the government coining the term “FETÖ” to designate the movement a terrorist organization despite the lack of any court verdict to that effect. A court last week in fact ruled out the existence of such an organization named “FETÖ.”
AKP turns medical university into its headquarters
Şifa University, which was seized by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government due to links to the Gülen movement, has been transformed into the AKP’s İzmir provincial headquarters.
Journalist Dumanlı says slanders against Hizmet reminiscent of Feb. 28 era
Zaman daily Editor-in-Chief Dumanlı has described slanderous remarks used by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and some members of the Justice and Development Party government against the Hizmet movement as highly reminiscent of insults directed at the country’s conservative-minded citizens during the Feb. 28, 1997 “postmodern coup” period.
Kosovo detains Gülen-linked teacher at Turkey’s request
A Turkish teacher named Uğur Toksoy was detained by Kosovo authorities just following a visit by Ankara Chief Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman, over his alleged links to the Gülen movement on Friday.
Latest News
Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away
Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice
Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say
Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?
Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case
A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook
Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?
Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis
In Case You Missed It
Minister Yazici Visits Turkish Schools in Yemen
Grand stage shows by Turkish Olympiad students enthrall İzmir locals
Turkey squandered historic opportunity to achieve democracy, says Gülen
The International Festival of Language and Culture visits UN, Ban Ki Moon sends a message
Bulgarian student wins Turkish Olympiad song contest final
Enes Kanter: “I’m getting death threats almost every day”
Prominent figures gather together at GYV iftar dinner in Istanbul