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Sat, 10. Jun 2006
Columnist Perihan Magden, who was exposed to verbal assults of extereme
nationalists ( called as idealists in Turkey) and run danger of being
crashed in the court hearing of trial which she is charged with ' to turn
Turks against compulsory military service' said she want to live in a
country which expression of thought ceases to be crime.
The trial opened about Perihan Magden for a magazine article titled as '
conscientous objection was a human right' in which she was charged with 'to
turn Turks against compulsory military service' began with trouble. Magden,
who came to Istanbul Judiciary in Sultanahmet, was protested by idealists
and Association for families of martyrs and soldiers waiting in front of the
door. The idealist group, who frequently shouted '' here is Turkey either
love or depart'', '' my son is soldier here is Turkey'', '' we borned as
soldier and will die as soldier'', tried to prevent entrance of Magden into
Judiciary. Magden who entered in with trouble was subjected to assaults of
members of Jurists Union and Association for Families of Martyrs in
corridors of judiciary. As well as Writer Magden, members of civil society
organizations and intellectuals including Poet Ataol Berhamoglu, President
of IHD Yusuf Alatas, Writer Ayse Kulin and Veysi Sayar who came to support
Magden were exposed to verbal assaults of idealist group like '' traitors'',
'' inglorious pr...'', '' dogs'', '' why you don't go to mountains''
Riot polices who formed security chain in the corridor of the judiciary had
surrounded idealist group and prevented them to assault Magden. It drew
attention that the group with Turkish flags, which continued to curse by
crying, was not expelled from judiciary.
Magden who made her defense said she could not believe she was in court and
facing up to 3 years in jail and her article did not aim to alienate people
>from compulsory military service. Drawing attention that she mentioned about
a 'right' recognized by United Nations in 1970 in her article, Magden, said
I am talking about a right which only Turkey and Azerbeijan did not accept
out of 46 members of European Councill. It is a natural part of my job as
columnist to express my ideas and opinions.
Stating that this trial which was opened over crime report of General Staff
is a disproportionate use of force, Magden, said expression freedom of all
citizens and persons who want to indicate their opinions are under
constitutional guarantees in democracies. Expressing she wants to live in a
country where expression of thought is no longer considered crime, Magden,
continued as: '' If this trial which is opened for me and based on a claim
which I have no intent contribute to expression of thought and conscientous
opinions ceased to be considered as crime I will suffer greatly with love
and happiness.''
Magden was got out from back door
Maden had run danger of being crashed because of assault of idealist group
waiting in the corridor of judiciary. Magden who was got on elevator with
company of polices, was got out judiciary from back door.
On the other hand members of Great Jurists Union who made press briefing in
front of judiciary defended conscientous objection is a service to PKK.
Retired Officer Zekeriya Ozturk, who came to agenda with assaults to State
Councill and detained afterwards, also participated in the press briefing.
Ozturk said he was there because he is against conscientous objection and he
had worked in Vatan newpaper previously.