Baptist Press, TN
Nov 3 2006
2 converts in Turkey charged under free speech restrictions
Nov 3, 2006
By Staff
Baptist Press
ISTANBUL, Turkey (BP)–A Turkish prosecutor has filed criminal
charges against two converts to Christianity, accusing them of
“insulting Turkishness,” inciting hatred against Islam and secretly
compiling data on private citizens for a local Bible correspondence
course, according to an Oct. 31 report by Compass Direct news
service.
Hakan Tastan, 37, and Turan Topal, 46, joined the ranks of 97 other
Turkish citizens taken to court in the last 16 months over alleged
violations of the country’s controversial Article 301 restricting
freedom of speech, Compass reported.
The attorney for the two Christians, Haydar Polat, said a state
prosecutor in the Silivri Criminal Court filed a formal indictment
against Tastan and Topal on Oct. 12. If convicted, the accused men
could be sentenced from six months to three years in prison, Compass
reported, noting that the first hearing for the trial is set for Nov.
23 in Silivri, 45 miles west of Istanbul along the Marmara Sea coast.
Polat said the trial could be expected to continue for a year or
more.
Citing articles 301, 216 and 135 of the Turkish penal code, the
indictment accuses the defendants of approaching grade school
children and high school students in Silivri and attempting to
convert them to Christianity, Compass reported.
According to the written charges, the three plaintiffs, identified as
23-year-old Fatih Kose, 16-year-old Alper and Oguz, 17, claimed the
two Christians had called Islam a “primitive and fabricated religion”
and had described Turks as a “cursed people.”
They also accused Tastan and Topal of opposing the Turkish military,
encouraging sexual misconduct and procuring funds from abroad to
entice young people in Silivri to become Christians. Tastan and Topal
deny all charges, Compass reported.
Neither of the men knew they were under investigation until Oct. 11,
when two carloads of gendarme officials appeared with a search
warrant at Tastan’s home at 8 a.m., Compass recounted. The officers
informed Tastan that a complaint had been made against him claiming
he had unlicensed guns and was conducting illegal missionary
activities. While Tastan and his wife and two small children looked
on, the search team spent two hours combing their apartment in
Buyukcekmece, on the western outskirts of Istanbul.
“Now let’s go to your office and find Turan,” the soldiers told
Tastan, instructing him to call Topal and ask him to stay at the
office until he arrived, without explaining why, Compass reported.
Tastan was surprised that they knew his office address and the name
of his office partner; he later learned that a Silivri prosecutor had
given the gendarme written permission to follow, photograph and
secretly tape them for one month.
After searching the small bureau in Istanbul’s Taksim district, the
gendarme confiscated two computers and an array of books and papers,
Compass reported. They then loaded the two Christians into their
vehicles and drove them back to Silvri.
After hours of interrogation by military intelligence officials, the
two men were released for the night and ordered to return the next
morning to complete the investigation, Compass reported. By the end
of Oct. 12, they had recorded their formal statements before the
prosecutor.
Both men said they had categorically denied all the accusations
against them, Compass reported, noting that the charges apparently
are based on three or four trips they had made to Silivri months ago
to meet a teacher and several high school students who had contacted
an Istanbul-based Bible correspondence course requesting a visit.
“It’s all lies,” Topal told Compass. “Someone is trying to make us
look like a Christian tarikat [banned religious sect].” He said one
of the gendarme officials told him he was accused of having weapons,
forming illegal cell groups, evangelizing children and trying to
destroy the secular state of Turkey.
Topal, who became a Christian 17 years ago, said he told the gendarme
interrogators that he was innocent, “but I am doing missionary work.
I am a Christian evangelist and I don’t deny that. So you can put me
in jail for that, if you want. But you know what I’m doing is not
against the law.”
A Christian for 12 years, Tastan said he told the prosecutor, “I am a
Christian and I am a Turk. I will keep on sharing my faith. We are
not ashamed to be Christians and we are not hiding anything.”
Tastan said he worked part-time at a printing house and gave the rest
of his time to Christian ministry, Compass reported.
Just four days after the two were released, the mass-circulation
Hurriyet newspaper gave front-page coverage to the Silivri
investigation under the headline, “Gendarme raid missionary office,”
Compass reported.
Declaring that parents of Silivri students had complained that the
two men were promoting missionary activities among grade school
students, the Oct. 16 article claimed that their office, linked with
the Taksim Protestant Church, had compiled names and detailed private
data on 5,000 citizens in Turkey’s Marmara region.
Topal said the claims are absurd, but news clips based on the
Hurriyet release were broadcast that same day on TGRT television and
the local TV music channel.
The next morning, an article in the Islamic Zaman newspaper linked
the Christians’ arrest and interrogations with a Turkish draft-dodger
who had hijacked a Turkish Airlines plane two weeks before flying
from Albania to Istanbul. Claiming he was a Christian and a
conscientious objector, Izmir-born Hakan had appealed to Pope
Benedict XVI for asylum.
According to Zaman, “… it was confirmed that the hijacker had ties
with Tastan and Topal.” The Oct. 17 article stated that the men had
confessed in their formal statements that they knew Ekinci and that
he had led Protestant missionary activities in the Aegean region of
Turkey.
After examining the legal file against Tastan and Topal, Isa Karatas,
spokesman for the Alliance of Protestant Churches in Turkey,
commented, “There is no legal proof. It only contains verbal
allegations, without any evidence.”
Karatas told Compass he considered it “a violation of democratic
rights” for the gendarme team to raid and search a private home and
office “without a single piece of evidence — and then pass on this
destructive and unsubstantiated information to the media.”
Meanwhile, the European Union has reiterated its demand that Turkey
either amend or scrap Article 301, which prohibits “insulting
Turkishness.”
EU critics complain that the law fails to define “Turkishness,”
allowing prosecutors to issue widely varying legal interpretations in
a rash of cases against journalists, novelists, professors and other
intellectuals. Turkey instituted Article 301 in June 2005 as part of
the country’s package of reform laws to facilitate the overwhelmingly
Muslim nation’s entry into the European Union.
According to Turkish media reports, Rene van der Linden, chair of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, suggested in an Oct.
26 meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul that Europe’s
objections to Article 301 could outweigh even the unresolved dispute
over Turkey’s refusal to open its seaports and airports to traffic
from EU member Greek Cyprus.
But the government insists that the issue focuses on “implementation”
of the law, arguing that the courts have yet to send anyone to jail
for alleged speech restriction violations.
Although several prominent defendants have been acquitted, including
this year’s Nobel prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk, dozens of
trials still are pending in the courts. A number of cases focus on
comments regarding the Turkish state’s denial of what it terms the
“alleged genocide” of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
Another acquittal was handed down in May to two professors who
prepared a controversial report for a parliamentary sub-commission
regarding minority and cultural rights. The report maintained that
non-Muslims in particular were subject to discrimination in Turkey
and sometimes treated as foreigners rather than equal Turkish
citizens.
The report, accused by nationalists of being treasonous, was disowned
by the government and never published, according to Compass Direct.
–30–
Reported by Barbara G. Baker for Compass Direct, a news service based
in Santa Ana, Calif., focusing on Christians worldwide who are
persecuted for their faith. Used by permission.
.asp?ID=24326
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Moscow Nationalists to Rally in spite of Ban
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 14:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ November 2 the whole day Moscow officials were
discussing the firm intention of organizers of Russian March to hold
that measure in the Moscow metro in spite of the ban. As a result the
authorities said they will take steps not to admit the nationalist
action. However, neither the organizers, nor the participants of the
future rally were intimidated and kept open discussion on where and
how to gather. Moreover, it appeared that there may be at least two
“nationalist events” in the capital. Worried by the attention of
authorities to the Russian march, fascist and skinhead groupings
decided to do it in a different way.
Tuesday Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov prohibited the holding of the
Russian March in Moscow November 4.
Thus, the organizers – the Movement against Illegal Migration
(MAIM) decided to gather in one of the metro largest stations –
Komsomolskaya-Koltsevaya instead of the street, as “the authorities
cannot close it and working on the platform would be difficult to
law-enforcers.” After a certain number of participants arrive, the
organizers intend to announce the destination for holding the march,
stated MAIM leader Alexander Belov.
Owing to the stir a number of nationalist organizations refused from
participation n the event.
Lately members of those groups discussed their plans for November 4 in
Internet forums. Fascists decided not to go to the metro in order not
to appear on tracing cameras. They will probably visit an authorized
meeting of liberals on the Bolotnaya Square. The organizers of “the
alternative measure” urge their brothers-in-arms to go and “explain
to liberals why they are wrong.”
At that long-standing national patriots urged their colleagues to be
careful, as well as to come to the rally not in “organized crowds,”
not to shout slogans and dress in a simple manner to avoid militia
suspicion, reports Vremya Novostey.

Azeri Opposition against OSCE MG Activities
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 15:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Our Azerbaijan opposition bloc demanded that the
authorities give up MG mediation in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement,
says a statement of the bloc released in Baku. “The bloc urges the
authorities of Azerbaijan to undertake specific steps to release
territories, occupied by Armenian armed grouping, by force and give
up OSCE MG mediation in the Karabakh settlement,” the statement notes,
reports Day.az.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

10% of ArmenTel Shares Passed to Management of Minister Communication of Armenia
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 15:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a session yesterday the Armenian Government
passed the authorities on management of 10% of shares of ArmenTel
telecommunication company, held by the Government, to Minister of
Transport and Communication Andranik Manukyan, reports the Press
Office of the Government.
The decision is adopted by the Armenian Government in compliance with
the Law on Joint-Stock Companies.
ArmenTel is the major telecommunication company of Armenia. 90% of
its shares are held by OTE Greek company, while the Government has
10%. This year OTE announced a tender to sell its shares. 16 companies
took part in it. Russian VimpelCom and MTC, as well as ETISALAT
(Emirates Telecommunications Corporation/Istithmar ETV -Emergent
Telecom Ventures) VTEL Holdings/Knightsbridge Associates passed to the
second round of the tender, the results of which are not announced yet.

Several Bilateral Documents to Be Signed during RA President’s Visit to Kazakhstan
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 16:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ November 6 Armenian President Robert Kocharian will
pay a formal call to Kazakhstan on the invitation of Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev, reported the RA leader’s press office. The
Presidents will hold a tete-a-tete meeting to be followed by talks in
expanded composition. In the Kazakh capital city Robert Kocharian will
meet with entrepreneurs and representatives of the Armenian community.

MTS Unaware of ArmenTel Tender Outcomes
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ MTS Russian company doesn’t possess information
on the outcomes of the tender on 90% of ArmenTel’s stocks. “We are
waiting for the official results of the tender,” MTS Spokesman Kirill
Alyavdin said. When asked to comment on MTS’s chances, he said the
company ‘refrains from any comments before the announcement of the
formal outcomes of the tender.’ ArmenTel and the RA Ministry of
Transport and Communications also refrain from comments.
Meanwhile yesterday the Armenian government resigned its commission of
10% of ArmenTel’s stocks to Minister of Transport and Communications
Andranik Manukian.
Russian companies MTS and Vympelcom as well as VTEL-Holding are
participating in the tender.
Earlier it was reported that ArmenTel can be sold to Arab Emirates
Telecommunications Corporation (ETISALAT)/ Istithmar PJSC/Emergent
Telecom Ventures (ETV) for $600 million, however Andranik Manukian
refuted the information, reports newsarmenia.ru.

Azerbaijan Considers Karabakh Armenians “Its Citizens”
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 17:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azerbaijan considers the Armenians of Nagorno
Karabakh to be its citizens and the government of the republic is
interested in the further development of this region, which is
an inseparable part of the state,” Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said at a meeting with Italy’s Permanent Representative
in the OSCE Francesco Bascone. The Azeri FM underscored that the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is possible ‘only within
the frames of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity with granting the
highest status of self-government to the Armenian population.’
Mammadyarov noted the importance ‘peaceful co-existence of the
Armenian and Azeri communities of Nagorno Karabakh.’ For his part
Mr Bascone said the conflicting sides should reach agreement on the
basic settlement principles and stressed the importance of essential
measures during the post-conflict period for creation of mutual trust
between the sides, reports Day.az

Serbian MFA: Kosovo’s Independence May Become Example for Nagorno Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 17:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Vuk Draskovic
said that Kosovo may be an example for Nagorno Karabakh. The Minister
said that in case that Kosovo achieves its independence it will be a
precedent for Nagorno Karabakh and other unrecognized institutions
in the post soviet space. He said that while discussing Moldova’s
sovereignty and integrity Serbia voted for such kind of resolution. The
Minister said it is ‘impossible to agree to Kosovo’s independence
even theoretically.’ “We will not allow Kosovo’s accession to the UN
and organizations supporting the sovereignty of states openly. We
will keep to this principle even in the most severe diplomatic
struggle,” the minister said. Vuk Draskovic said if the UN grants
independence to Kosovo, it will be an example for Transdniestria,
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh, Northern Cyprus, Basque
in Spain and even Ireland. “I counted. Nearly 40 regions of the world
may achieve independence,” the Minister said, reports the Azeri Press.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Transniestria against Replacement of Russian Peacekeepers by GUAM Contingent
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 17:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Transniestria stands against the replacement
of Russian peacekeepers by the troops of GUAM member states, said
chairman of the Transniestrian Supreme Council Yevgeny Shevchuk.
During 14 years joint Russian, Moldavian and Transniestrian
peacekeeping forces secure peace in the region. No burst of violence
was fixed and no one was killed in the course of these years. We
consider that change of the format can destabilize the situation,”
the Speaker said. “Deployment of GUAM’s blue helmets aimed at exerting
pressure on Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transniestria will not be
exercised,” Shevchuk underscored.
Late September 2006 in New York the FMs of the GUAM member states
(Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) discussed the possibility of
replacing Russian peacekeepers by GUAM’s civil and police forces in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, reports ITAR-TASS.
Abkhazia also stands against GUAM’s peacekeepers.
Chairman of the Abkhazian committee on defense and national security
Garry Samanba said Abkhazia will never agree on withdrawal of the
CIS Collective Forces from the territory of the republic. In case
the forces are withdrawn Abkhazia is ready to host joint Abkhazian,
Transniestrian and South Ossetian peacekeepers, he added.

Russia and Georgia Don’t Need Mediators
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 17:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Armenia will welcome the Russia-Georgia dialogue,
normalization of relations and alleviation of tension,” RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian said when commenting on Armenia’s role in
the normalization of the Russian-Georgian relations. In his words, the
discussion of the existing complex questions should be held by these
two states and there is no need in mediators. “Russia and Georgia also
said this,” the Minister remarked, reports the Public Radio of Armenia.