The sixth gathering in Istanbul for Freedom of Expression took place on 23 and 24 May 2009. The gathering is organised by the Initiative for Freedom of Expression and gathered the sufferers of repression in Turkey with the rights defenders from Europe and Black Sea countries.
On the first day of the gathering witnesses told their stories. Mahmut Alınak, Temel Demirer, Abdurrahman Dilipak, İbrahim Özdabak, Doğan Özkan, Serkis Seropyan, Mehmet Tursun, Alp Selek, Bora Bengisu, Mehmet Baransu told what happened to them. Wide range of witnesses and the law articles under which they are charged exposed the state of freedom of expression in Turkey. In the afternoon of the first day Andrew Gardner from Amnesty International, Emma Sinclair Webb of Human Rights Watch, Eugene Schoulgin of PEN International, Alexis Krikorian of International Publishers Association, and Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu from MAZLUMDER made presentations. In the last session of the first day, Professor Turgut Tarhanlı moderated a panel discussion by Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kaboğlu, Assoc. Prof.Yaman Akdeniz, an Assist. Prof. Asuman A. İnceoğlu on ‘Discriminatory Expressions, Threat of Discrimination by the means of Informatics and Freedom of Expression’.
The second day was opened by Murat Sungar retired Ambassador, and First Deputy of Gen. Sec. of BSEC. NGO representatives from Black Sea Economic Cooperation countries conveyed the state of freedom of expression in their countries, problems and struggles. Prof. Yaman Akdeniz moderated a panel discussion ‘Discriminatory Discourse in media in BSEC countries and freedom of expression’. Entela Safeti Kasi from Albania, Nouneh Sarkssian from Armenia, Emin Huseynov from Azerbaijan, Ognian Zlatev from Bulgaria, Zaza Gachechiladze from Georgia, Ioana Avadani from Romania, Oleg Panfilov from Russia and Kostiantyn Kvurt from Ukraine examined the situation in their countries.
Program
May 23, 2009 Saturday: Global Meeting(Bilgi University Dolapdere) Freedom of expression under the threat of discrimination in a democratic society 10:00 – 10:10 Welcome (Video on the history…
May 23, 2009 Saturday: Global Meeting(Bilgi University Dolapdere)
Freedom of expression under the threat of discrimination in a democratic society
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome (Video on the history of the Gathering)
10:10 – 10:30 Opening statement: Prof. Turgut Tarhanlı
10:30 – 12:00 Testimonies from Turkey (16 witnesses on different cases each)
12:00 – 13:30 …………………..…LUNCH BREAK ……………..………
13:30 – 14:30 Contributions from International Organizations:
Amnesty International (Andrew Gardner- Turkey Reporter)
Human Rights Watch (Emma Sinclair-Webb – Turkey Reporter)
International PEN (Eugene Schoulgin – International Secretary)
International Publishers Association (Alexis Krikorian – Freedom to Publish Director)
14:30 – 17:00 PANEL: Discriminatory speeches, threat of discrimination through information technology and freedom of expression
Moderator : Prof. Turgut Tarhanlı
Participants: Prof.Dr. İbrahim Kaboğlu, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Yaman Akdeniz,
Asst.Prof.Dr. Asuman A. İnceoğlu, Asst.Prof.Dr. Kerem Altıparmak
May 24, 2009 Sunday: Regional Meeting(Bilgi University Dolapdere)
Freedom of expression under the threat of terror or armed conflict in Black Sea Region
10:00 – 10:15 Opening statement:(H E.Murat Sungar- Former Ambassador, 1st Dep.Gen.Sec.of BSEC)
10:15 – 12:00 Testimonies from BSEC Countries (11 guests from diverse countries)
12:00 – 13:30 …………………..…LUNCH BREAK ……………..………
13:30 – 17:00 PANEL: Freedom of expression, media and threat of discrimination
in BS basin countries
Moderator : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yaman Akdeniz
Participants : Guests from Black Sea region countries
Guest List
The Participants of the 6th Gathering in Istanbul for Freedom of Expression:
Alexis Krikorian (IPA – International Publishers’ Association)
Andrew Gardner (Amnesty International Turkey Reporter)
Azar Mahloujian (Author, Swedish PEN )
Emin Huseynov (Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety–President – Azerbaijan)
Emma Sinclair-Webb (Human Rights Watch Turkey Reporter)
Entela Safeti Kasi (Poet, Albanian PEN President)
Eugene Schoulgin (International PEN International Secretary)
Ioana Avadani (Center for Independent Journalism-Executive Director – Romania)
Kostiantyn Kvurt (Chairman of Internews Ukraine)
Nora Kovacs (OSCE – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
Nouneh Sarkissian (Internews, Media Support NGO-Managing Director – Ermenistan)
Ognian Zlatev (Media Development Center-Managing Director – Bulgaria)
Oleg Panfilov (Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations-Director – Russian Federation)
Prof. Zaza Gachechiladze (The Messenger-General Director – Georgia)