A prominent Turkish journalist went on trial on Wednesday charged with undermining the authority of the armed forces by writing in support of a young man who refused to do military service.
Perihan Magden is one of several journalists and writers who face the courts this week as nationalist prosecutors inside the criminal justice system try to silence opinion and comment that, they argue, threaten Turkey’s unity or the integrity of the state.
Ms Magden’s trial, which was adjourned until late next month, is being closely watched by the European Union. Brussels is taking an increasingly hard line with Turkey over restrictions on freedom of expression.
Separately, some staff at TRT, the state broadcasting network, demonstrated in Istanbul yesterday against alleged censorship and interference by the government, which has its roots in political Islam.
Freedom of expression in Turkey, which has frequently clamped down on dissident views in the past for fear of stoking separatist or leftist strife, is one of the most contentious issues in Ankara’s relations with the EU. It is expected to feature high on the agenda at a bilateral meeting on Monday aimed at making progress on Turkey’s bid to join the Union.
Also yesterday, a court ruled that Necmettin Erbakan, a former prime minister and a founder of Turkey’s Islamist movement, could serve a 28-month prison sentence at home. Mr Erbakan was convicted earlier this year of corruption in the financing of his defunct Welfare party, which briefly held power in the mid-1990s.
His government was forced to resign in 1997 under pressure from a public campaign by the armed forces after he tried to reorientate Turkey’s foreign policy towards militant Middle Eastern countries.
