Project: "Freedom of expression and the media in Turkey/Facilitating the execution of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights"

  • Through the project, training and learning material was developed and disseminated including information on the Convention standards, the ECtHR case law relating to freedom of expression and freedom of media, as well as on the situation in Turkey.
  • Examples of ECtHR judgements against Turkey and Court’s judgements against other member States (re violation of Article 10), as well as relevant judgements of the Court of Cassation and of the Council of State were compiled and disseminated. More than 200 Turkish judges and prosecutors of first instance courts benefited from the project. Round tables were targeted for the court of cassation’s members dealing with terrorism related cases, with cases concerning “praising crime and criminals”, “incitement to hatred and violence”, defamation cases, bans on communication.
  • The project supported legislative measures to harmonise further the Turkish law with the standards of the Convention. The “4th judicial reform package” was adopted and promotes the effective execution of some judgments concerning freedom of expression in Turkey. A High-Level Conference, which took place in February 2013 (Ankara), gave impetus to new legislative reforms.
  • The project received a contribution of €300 000 from the Fund.