*Protests in ODTU (Middle East Technical University), the Alevi case, and further police violence were the main topics appearing in the media last week. *Ahmet Atakan, who joined the rally in Hatay to support the ODTU resistance and to protest the war, lost his life after being shot in the head with a gas capsule. Following that, police intervened in the demonstrations held in various cities with pressurized water, tear gas and plastic bullets. Eight of the journalists on duty at the rallies were subjected to police violence. *The announcement of a mosque-cemevi complex, a joined construction project of Fethullah Gulen Community and Cem Association, sparked heavy criticism and protests. During the Gezi resistance, 5 Alevi citizens lost their lives. The Alevi community and organizations poured onto the streets following Atakan’s death, as he was also an Alevi. *Another ODTU incident that was brought into media spotlight last week was the conflict regarding the wearing of headscarves. A group of ODTU students protested another student group wearing headscarves and it was reflected in the press as “headscarf tension”. Not long after that, the protesters stated that they were protesting the Gulen Community’s residences, not the students wearing headscarves. However, their way of protesting became a matter of debate. The incident also changed the course of the debates regarding the demonstrations which were exposed to excessive police violence. The demonstrations had been held to protest against the road construction that was planned to cross the ODTU campus and would cause deforestation.

1. Think, think…
Freedom of Expression
Weekly Bulletin (Issue
37/13, 13 September 2013)
What happened last week? (6-13 September 2013)
*Protests in ODTU (Middle East Technical University), the Alevi case, and further
police violence were the main topics appearing in the media last week.
*Ahmet Atakan, who joined the rally in Hatay to support the ODTU resistance and to
protest the war, lost his life after being shot in the head with a gas capsule. Following
that, police intervened in the demonstrations held in various cities with pressurized
water, tear gas and plastic bullets. Eight of the journalists on duty at the rallies were
subjected to police violence.
*The announcement of a mosque-cemevi complex, a joined construction project of
Fethullah Gulen Community and Cem Association, sparked heavy criticism and
protests. During the Gezi resistance, 5 Alevi citizens lost their lives. The Alevi
community and organizations poured onto the streets following Atakan’s death, as he
was also an Alevi.
*Another ODTU incident that was brought into media spotlight last week was the
conflict regarding the wearing of headscarves. A group of ODTU students protested
another student group wearing headscarves and it was reflected in the press as
“headscarf tension”. Not long after that, the protesters stated that they were
protesting the Gulen Community’s residences, not the students wearing headscarves.
However, their way of protesting became a matter of debate. The incident also
changed the course of the debates regarding the demonstrations which were exposed
to excessive police violence. The demonstrations had been held to protest against the
road construction that was planned to cross the ODTU campus and would cause
deforestation.
Please find the detailed news below…

2. Another loss of life in Hatay
Ahmet Atakan, 22, tragically passed away after he was shot in the head with a tear
gas capsule during the rally he joined to support ODTU (Middle East Technical
University) in Antakya, Hatay, on 10 September.
Ahmet Atakan had joined the protests to campaign against the number of trees that
will be stubbed for a new road that will cross the university campus. He was also
there to support the antiwar rally. He was hospitalized in Akdeniz Hospital after being
heavily injured. Later on, he was transferred to Antakya State Hospital where not long
after he passed away.
Hatay Governorship claimed that Atakan lost his life after falling off the roof.
However, the MP for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) of Hatay, Mevlut Dudu,
stated that Atakan passed away after being shot with a tear gas capsule from a very
close distance. The autopsy report proved that on the left side of Atakan’s skull there
is a 6x5 centimeter wound which allegedly could only have occurred by a stroke. The
cause of death was reported as “bleeding in the lungs and head trauma”.
EU comments on Ahmet Atakan’s death

3. Peter Stano, member of the European Commission, commented on the death of
Ahmet Atakan: “We, as members of the European Union, expect a fast, detailed and
transparent inquiry in order to clarify the details of the incident and to find whoever
is responsible. To remind you of the position of the Commission, we are responsible
for providing citizens of candidate countries to exercise their right to protest and to
hold demonstration, and of protecting this right. Besides, freedom of expression
should be secured within the European Union standards. There is no question that the
circumstances occurring yesterday and in the past weeks and months will appear in
the progress report of the Commission” he said.
TOMA and tear gas at funeral
Following Ahmet Atakan’s death, demonstrations were held in various cities of
Turkey, as well as in New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Lafayette Square
Los Angeles, Toronto and Barcelona. Atakan was laid to rest a day after the
demonstrations. Police, using pressurized water and tear gas, intervened in the group
who wanted to hold a demonstration after the funeral. A protester, Aycan Karaalioglu,
was heavily injured. It was reported that Karaalioglu had five fractures in the skull.
Police refused protesters to hold a demonstration in Taksim. A worker, Ercan Altın,
and a teacher, Melih Dalbudak, were shot with tear gas capsules in the forehead. Altın
who endured a fracture will be taken into operation.
At least 8 journalists injured
A lot of journalists were subjected to police violence during recent protests in Turkey
and at least eight have been injured. Ufuk Kosar, a freelance journalist, was hit with a
police truncheon during the clash that broke out between police forces and protesters
at the demonstration held for Ahmet Atakan, on 10 September, in Istanbul. Reporter
Rabia Celik was head butted by a police officer. Umut Kacar, photographer from
Atlas magazine, was shot with a plastic bullet in the head. Ali Acar, reporter from
Cumhuriyet Daily, was kicked and dragged on the ground. A photojournalist from
Cumhuriyet Daily, Kaan Saganak was injured with a plastic bullet that was fired from
just a 2 meter distance. Ugur Can, photojournalist from Dogan News Agency and
Bulent Doruk, reporter from Anadolu Agency, were battered by police forces. Mete

4. Ud, Izmir reporter of Evrensel Daily, suffered transient blindness after being shot in
the eye with pressurized water. And Berna Sahin, reporter from Birgun Daily, stated
via Twitter that undercover policemen prevented journalists from performing their
duty. 26 people, including one juvenile, were detained in Taksim. In addition, 17
people were detained in Kadikoy. It was reported that two women detained in
Kadikoy were allegedly subjected to strip searches. The juvenile detained in Taksim
was released in the afternoon. Statement procedures for others continue.
The Turkish Journalists’ Association and Press Council demanded punishment for the
alleged offenders and stated that police forces explicitly intervene in freedom of press
by preventing journalists from performing their duty.
You may watch the footage showing police intervention here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV050LiMkVQ
Hideous cartoon of Atakan in Cafcaf mag
The “Islamic humor magazine” Cafcaf published a “cartoon” related to the allegations
of Ahmet Atakan’s fall off a roof, who in fact lost his life as a result of police
violence.
The cartoon drawn by Yahya Alakay featured Ahmet falsely being pushed off the roof
by protesters. Cafcaf magazine, after receiving a number of negative calls, removed
the cartoon from their website.

5. Mosque to be built alongside Cemevi
The foundational plans to join the Mosque, the Cemevi and the Cultural Center were
laid in Ankara on 8 September. It is the joint project of Fethullah Gulen, leader of the
Gulen Community and Izettin Doğan, honorary president of Cem Assosiation. People
of Tuzlucayir, Ankara, claim that the building project is part of the assimilation policy
aimed at the Alevi community, and wanted to hold a demonstration against it. The
police, however, intervened in the rally. Police forces tried to disperse the group using
water cannon and tear gas. Upon the crowd resistance, clashes broke out between the
crowd and the police forces. At least 15 people were detained during the incident.
To protest the incidents in Tuzlucayir, hundreds of people held demonstrations in
Izmir and Istanbul. Two of the journalists reporting during the incidents were injured.
In Okmeydani, Istanbul, police threw a stun grenade at a Birgun Daily reporter, Berna
Sahin, which caused her to temporarily lose consciousness. Hasan Akbaş and Birkan
Bulut, reporters from Evrensel Daily, were battered by police forces in Tuzlucayir.
Executive editor of Cem Radio, Cuneyt Yilmaz, stated that he was opposed to the
project and resigned to protest against police violence during the demonstrations.
Headscarf conflict at ODTU

6. On 5 September, the enrollment day for the new term at ODTU (Middle East
Technical University), a group of students protested another student group wearing
headscarves and tried to take them out of the campus on the grounds that they were
members of the “Gulen Community”. The Gulen Community had allegedly started a
smear campaign against ODTU student residences and protesters stated that they were
demonstrating against the Gulen Community movement within their university.
The Chief Public Prosecutor started an inquiry into five students in regards to an
alleged “threat, insult”, and an inquiry about a student in regards to an alleged
“violation of secrecy of personal data”. The incident was reflected in the press as a
protest against the use of headscarves in universities.
Prof. Dr. Gokhan Cetinsaya, President of the Council of Higher Education, said he
demanded an inquiry, and claimed that “Any student should not be subjected to
discrimination due to his/her philosophy of life”, and “Freedom of expression is not
absolute”.
A mother of one of the protesters, Hamide Yigit, stated that “they reviled against
ODTU student residences and described them as “prostitution slots” in order to drag
students to the Gulen Community’s residences. My daughter protested this hideous
behavior with a banner. Yet they twisted the matter into a headscarf issue with lies
and distortion” she said.
You may watch the footage of the incident here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX2f0sdPMgg
Ban of headscarf is lifted
The government, within its solution package, singles out the “headscarf” ban in code
numbered 657 and changes the regulation that the ban relies on. Accordingly, two

7. extra articles will be added to the Turkish Penalty Code that will propose a penalty for
anyone presenting an obstacle for the wearing of the headscarf.
Within the amendment, the phrase that the “head is to be uncovered in the working
place” will be removed from the regulation’s fifth paragraph dated 1982, which orders
that “dress, trousers, and skirts are to be clean, decent, ironed and plain; shoes or
boots are to be plain, polished and with standard heels; head is to be uncovered in the
working place; hair is to be neatly combed or tied-up, nails are to clipped properly.”
Hereunder, the Turkish Penalty Code will be amended to penalize anyone who poses
an obstacle for workers wearing a headscarf. The amendment will not cover staff
members with “official uniform”, who work for the Turkish Armed Forces and
Security General Directorate.
Ferhat Tunc’s concert stopped by protesters
A group of protesters intervened in Ferhat Tunc’s concert by singing the Turkish
national anthem. The concert was organized by the Peace and Democracy Party
(BDP) in Dikili, Izmir. Following a power cut in the concert area, Tunc ended the
concert, saying he would keep singing freedom songs. Clashes broke out between the
audience and the protesters who intervened in the concert. Afterwards, the incident
spread across the central district and police blocked off the streets.
Ferhat Tunc, following the incident, shared his opinion on twitter, via his account
@ferhatttunc: “I am not the one who discriminates or divides people. The
government, instead of taking steps, divides the society by getting more and more
offensive. This is one of the reasons why I got attacked in Dikili.”

8. Six releases in the Kurdistan Communities
Union Case
Sadiye Eser, reporter of Evrensel Daily who was arrested after being detained during
KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) operation on 12th December, was released in
the first trial following 10 months of imprisonment. Eser, Ruken Çelik, Ridvan Oguz,
Ramazan Atup, Felat Abik and Vaysi Özdemir were released too.
Sadiye Eser pleaded in Kurdish during the trial held in the Istanbul 23th High
Criminal Court. Eser, saying that due to her being Kurdish, she was easily accused of
being a member of the terror organization, and stated that “if you are a chemical
engineer and you have a photo from a demonstration, you are accused of producing a
petrol bomb.” The court ordered the release of six people, but decided on the
continued imprisonment for Huseyin Eser and Huseyin Akdogan. The next trial has
been scheduled for 12th December.
“Heberler” going off the air

9. TURKMAX cancelled the political comedy show, “Heberler”. Actor Levent Kazak
announced the news via Twitter, saying that “the preparations normally start up
nowadays every year. Yet as might be expected, “Heberler” was cancelled. Perchance
we will meet again.”
Along with Levent Kazak, Memet Ali Alabora, Elif Dagdeviren, Serhat Kilic and
Mahir Ipek also had parts in the show. Producer Elif Dagdeviren claimed that the
channel cancelled their contract and they had had no problems so far with the
channel. It was alleged that the program went off the air because the crew,
particularly Memet Ali Alabora, supported the Gezi Park resistance.
Verdict of non-prosecution for Memet Ali Alabora
Alabora had caused debates with his tweet during the Gezi resistance saying “it is not
just the park my friend, aren’t you still aware of that? Come here!” Following that,
two different inquiries regarding Alabora had been started on the grounds of
“solicitation in public”. However, the court ordered non-prosecution.
Hrant Dink case published into a book
The book of Fethiye Cetin, Hrant Dink’s murder trial lawyer, “Utanc Duyuyorum:
Hrant Dink Cinayetinin Yargisi” (I feel ashamed: Judgment of Hrant Dink Murder)
was published. The book includes information regarding the link between the Dink
murder and National Intelligence Service, and how the secret witnesses vanished.
Cetin also tells in 367 pages how he met Hrant Dink before 19 January, and talks
about the term before the murder and judgment process.
Hrant Dink Awards
International Hrant Dink Awards will be given on 15 September, on Dink’s birthday.
The ceremony, starting at 8pm, will be broadcasted on
www.hrantdink.org and www.hrantdinkodulu.org, both in Turkish and English.

10. Monument to Respect Victims of Torture
The Monument to Respect Victims of Torture was officially opened in Ziverbey
Pavilion on 12 September, on the 33th anniversary of the coup, with the participation
of the victims of torture. During the ceremony it was once again reminded that torture
was a crime against humanity and it is still performed by the state in different ways.
“Kirklar Meclisi”, an Alevi gathering within the Diyarbakır Sur District Municipality,
put up a monument titled “Ortak Vicdan Aniti” (Collective Conscience Monument).
The monument, constructed in Anzele Park, was officially opened with the
participation of citizens from different belief systems, with the slogan of “We
collectivize our pain so that we won’t experience it again”.
Shame Museum of 12 September opened in
Istanbul
The exhibition titled “12 September Shame Museum” was opened at Akatlar Cultural
Center, in Istanbul followed by Antalya, Ankara and Izmir.
The exhibition includes Deniz Gezmis’s parka, Ibrahim Kaypakkaya’s mimeograph,
and mock-ups of torture instruments and the photographs of the ones who lost their

11. lives during the Gezi resistance, as well as remembrances, photographs of
those executed after 12 Eylul or who died during revolutionary struggle. In addition,
files, photos and the last letters of the executed revolutionists are exhibited.