Organised every two years by the Initiative for Freedom of Expression an İstanbul Gathering for Freedom of Expression concluded. The last one held between the 8th and 10th of realized in collaboration with İstanbul Bilgi University Human Rights Law Research Center and hosted by the Metropolitan Municipality of İstanbul.
On the evening of the 8th the group went to support Ahmet Şık and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu who are on trial for the book they have written for the Gathering.
On the day of the 9th, Şanar Yurdatapan, Prof. Dr. Turgut Tarhanlı, guest of honor Noam Chomsky, and PEN Co-Chair Eugene Schoulgin made each a short inauguration speech. Then at the “We are all Hrants” section counsellor Fethiye Çetin and the reporters Tûba Çandar and Kemal Göktaş took turns speaking. Later during “Cogito, ergo…”section guests talked about the issues experienced in their own countries. Where Ukrainean journalist Konstantin Kvurt, Georgian poet Irakli Kakabadze, Russian journalist Oleg Panfilow, and from the USA Prof. Richard Falk, Prof. Hilal Elver; and counsellor Judith Chomsky took turns speaking.
On the 10th of October at the second session of “Cogito, ergo…“ victims of violation of freedom of expression gave their testimonies. Those spoke were researcher Hülya Tarman, book seller Seferi Yılmaz, worker in Germany Mehmet Desde, singer Cevdet Bağca, actor Haldun Açıksözlü, consciencious objector Ercan Aktaş, Pınar Selek’s counsellor Tora Pekin, publisher Mehdi Tanrıkulu, journalists Nedim Şener, İsmail Saymaz and Merve Erol.
Also this year at a new inclusion to the programme “Quo Vadis?” the future of freedom of exression was discussed. This section was held on both days and was completed in three sessions.
At the first session Irakli Kakabadze, Jayan Nayar, Herbert Docena made their presentations. At the second session speakers were Prof. Hilal Elver, Prof. Richard Falk, and Prof. Noam Chomsky. At the third session on the 10th of October, speakers were Indian poet Corinne Kumar, who lives in Tunisia, Kristin Schnider of the Swiss PEN, and Norwegian writer Eugene Schoulgin, co-chair of International PEN.
Gathering concluded with Prof. Noam Chomsky’s lecture titled “Democracy and Rights in the Emerging World Order”.
Program
Program Hosted by Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul In Cooperation with Istanbul Bilgi University Human Rights Law Research Center October 9, 2010 Saturday 10:00 – 10:45 OPENING (Video…
Program
Hosted by
Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul
In Cooperation with
Istanbul Bilgi University Human Rights Law Research Center
October 9, 2010 Saturday
10:00 – 10:45 OPENING (Video projection, opening speeches)
Şanar Yurdatapan (Initiative for Freedom of Expression), Kadir Topbaş (Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality), Prof. Turgut Tarhanlı (Istanbul Bilgi University), Prof. Noam Chomsky (Guest of Honour), Eugene Schoulgin (International PEN), Andrew Gardner (Amnesty International)
10:45 – 11:15 WE ALL ARE HRANTS
( Hrant Dink story and witnesses)
11:15 – 11:30 ********** Coffee Break ************
11:30 – 12:30 COGITO, ERGO …
Testimonies on freedom of expression violations (Guests telling stories from their countries)
12:30 – 13:45 *********** LUNCH *******************
13:45 – 15:45 QUO VADIS?
(To which direction should freedom of Expression progress?)
15:45 – 16:00 *********** Coffee Break *************
16:00 – 18:00 QUO VADIS?
(To which direction should freedom of Expression progress?)
October 10, 2010
Sunday 10:00 – 11:30 COGITO, ERGO …
Testimonies on freedom of expression violations (Victims / witnesses telling stories from Turkey)
11:30 – 11:45 *********** Coffee Break *************
11:45 – 13:45 QUO VADIS?
(To which direction should freedom of Expression progress?)
13:45 – 15:00 *********** LUNCH *******************
15:00 – 17:00 Prof.Noam Chomsky
“Democracy and Rights in the Emerging World Order”