PROCEDURE

The case originated in two applications (nos. 36370/02 and 37581/02) against the Republic of Turkey lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by two Turkish nationals, Mr Ecevit Piroğlu and Mrs Mihriban Karakaya (“the applicants”), on 17 August 2002 and 18 August 2002 respectively.

The applicants were represented by Ms E. Yıldız and Mr Zeynel Kaya respectively, lawyers practising in Izmir. The Turkish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent.

On 2 May 2006 the Court joined the applications (Rule 42 § 1), declared them partly inadmissible and decided to communicate to the Government the complaints concerning both applicants' right to a fair and public hearing, and the second applicant's right to freedom of expression and freedom of association. Under the provisions of Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, the Court decided to examine the merits of the applications at the same time as their admissibility.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicants were born in 1974 and 1962, respectively, and live in Izmir. They were members of the executive board of the Izmir Branch of the Human Rights Association (“the Association”) at the time of lodging their applications to the Court. There were two different sets of criminal proceedings brought against the applicants; however, it should be noted that the first applicant's case concerned only the first set of proceedings, regarding the Association members with prior convictions.

A. Proceedings regarding the Association members with prior convictions

On 10 July 2001 the Izmir Governor sent a letter to the Association requesting that the membership of thirteen persons, including the second applicant, be annulled as they were considered to be involved in illegal activities. In this letter it is said that, although the second applicant had been taken into police custody on 30 April 1999, she had subsequently been released as it had not been established that she had any connection with the illegal TKP/ML-TIKKO (the Turkish Communist Party / Marxist-Leninist–Turkish Workers' and Peasants' Liberation Army).

On 6 August 2001 the Association replied to the Governor that they would not comply with the request since none of these thirteen persons had prior convictions which would ban them from founding or becoming a member of an association, as provided by section 4 §§ 2 and 3 and section 16 of the Associations Act (Law no. 2908).

On 17 October and 31 October 2001 respectively, the Izmir Public Prosecutor informed the applicants that a prosecution had been initiated against them for non-compliance with section 4 of Law no. 2908, but that no court proceedings would be initiated if they paid a fine of 142,366,000 Turkish liras (TRL)0 per person within ten days. The applicants did not pay the fine within ten days as required by the payment order.

Subsequently, on 3 December 2001 the Izmir Public Prosecutor filed a bill of indictment against the applicants and the other members of the Board. The public prosecutor requested that the accused be fined under Section 75 of the Associations Act and Article 119 of the Criminal Code for their failure to comply with the Izmir Governor's request. The bill of indictment was not notified to the applicants.

On 26 December 2001 the Izmir Magistrates' Court, without holding a hearing, found the applicants and the other co-accused guilty as charged and, by a penal order (ceza kararnamesi), fined them TRL 213,548,4000 per person. In doing so, the court relied on the “simplified procedure” stipulated in Article 386 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for relatively minor offences.

The applicants and the other co-accused lodged an objection with the Izmir Criminal Court against the decision of 26 December 2001.

On 6 February 2002 the Izmir Criminal Court dismissed the objection without a hearing.

The applicants paid the amounts due.

Subsequently, on 16 December 2002 one of the co-accused, Mr N.B., applied to the Ministry of Justice, requesting the Minister to refer the case to the Court of Cassation by way of a written order (yazılı emir).

On 29 January 2003 the Minister of Justice issued a written order and instructed the Chief Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to ask the Court of Cassation to set aside the judgment concerned.

On 14 April 2003 the Court of Cassation quashed the judgment of the Izmir Criminal Court dated 6 February 2002 and the case file was remitted to the Izmir Magistrates' Court.

On 14 May 2003 the Izmir Magistrates' Court held a preparatory hearing and included the case in its list. It further decided to summon all of the defendants, including the applicants, to its next hearing.

On 14 July, 7 August and 22 October 2003 respectively, the court held three hearings.

At its last hearing, held on 22 October 2003, the Magistrates' Court held that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because, following the promulgation of Law no. 4854 on 24 April 2003, the sentence imposed on the applicants for not complying with the Izmir Governorship's order had been classified as an administrative fine. During the proceedings, none of the defendants made submissions to the court.

On 25 February 2004 the Court of Cassation upheld the decision of the Izmir Magistrates' Court. The case file was sent to the Governorship of Izmir.

2. Proceedings regarding the Platform of Conscientious Objectors to War

On 9 October 2001 the Association, together with several local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), took part in a civil society movement called the “Platform of Conscientious Objectors to War” and made a collective press declaration in protest against the military operations of the United States of America (USA) in Afghanistan.

On an unspecified date, the prosecutor notified the second applicant that a prosecution had been initiated against her under Section 34 of the Associations Act for her involvement with the “Platform of Conscientious Objectors to War”, an organisation without any lawful status. The prosecutor also informed the applicant that no court proceedings would be initiated if she paid a fine of TRL 142,366,000 within ten days.

In the absence of payment, the prosecutor filed an indictment on 3 December 2001, charging the second applicant and five other board members of the Association with a violation of Section 34 of the Act. In the indictment, the prosecutor stated that the platform had no legal basis under Turkish law. The bill of indictment was not served on the second applicant.

On 31 December 2001 the Izmir Magistrates' Court, following the simplified procedure and thus without a hearing, convicted the second applicant as charged (case no. 2001/2160). By issuing a penal order, it sentenced her to an increased fine of TRL 213,548,400. However, the court suspended the sentence pursuant to section 6 of Law no. 647 on the execution of sentences.

On 18 February 2002 the second applicant lodged an objection with the İzmir Criminal Court against the penal order. She argued that her conviction infringed her right to freedom of expression and that “a collective press declaration” could not be classified as a contribution to the establishment of an unlawful organisation. She further complained that the indictment had not been communicated to her and that the court had not obtained statements or heard counter-evidence from her.

On 20 February 2002 the criminal court dismissed her objection, again without holding a hearing.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e1
001-85489_a2_em1
CODE
QUASI
36370/02
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e2
001-85489_a2_em2
CODE
QUASI
37581/02
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e3
001-85489_a2_em3
ORG
NO_MASK
Republic of Turkey
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001-85489_a2_e4
001-85489_a2_em4
DEM
QUASI
Turkish
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e5
001-85489_a2_em5
PERSON
DIRECT
Mr Ecevit Piroğlu
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e6
001-85489_a2_em6
PERSON
QUASI
Mrs Mihriban Karakaya
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e7
001-85489_a2_em7
DATETIME
QUASI
17 August 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e8
001-85489_a2_em8
DATETIME
QUASI
18 August 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e9
001-85489_a2_em9
PERSON
QUASI
Ms E. Yıldız
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e10
001-85489_a2_em10
PERSON
QUASI
Mr Zeynel Kaya
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em11
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e12
001-85489_a2_em12
ORG
NO_MASK
Turkish Government
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e13
001-85489_a2_em13
DATETIME
QUASI
2 May 2006
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e14
001-85489_a2_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
1974
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e15
001-85489_a2_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
1962
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em16
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em17
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em18
ORG
QUASI
Human Rights Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em19
ORG
NO_MASK
001-85489_a2_em18
Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em20
ORG
QUASI
Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em21
ORG
NO_MASK
Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e17
001-85489_a2_em22
DATETIME
QUASI
10 July 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em23
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em24
ORG
NO_MASK
Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e18
001-85489_a2_em25
QUANTITY
QUASI
thirteen persons
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e19
001-85489_a2_em26
DATETIME
QUASI
30 April 1999
POLITICS
correct
001-85489_a2_e20
001-85489_a2_em27
ORG
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em28
TKP/ML-TIKKO
POLITICS
insert
001-85489_a2_e20
001-85489_a2_em28
ORG
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em28
TKP/ML-TIKKO (the Turkish Communist Party / Marxist-Leninist–Turkish Workers' and Peasants' Liberation Army)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e21
001-85489_a2_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
6 August 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e18
001-85489_a2_em31
QUANTITY
QUASI
thirteen persons
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check
001-85489_a2_e22
001-85489_a2_em32
DATETIME
QUASI
17 October
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e23
001-85489_a2_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
31 October 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e24
001-85489_a2_em34
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Public Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e25
001-85489_a2_em35
QUANTITY
QUASI
142,366,000 Turkish liras (TRL)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e26
001-85489_a2_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
ten days
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e26
001-85489_a2_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
ten days
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e27
001-85489_a2_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
3 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e24
001-85489_a2_em39
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Public Prosecutor
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em40
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e28
001-85489_a2_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
26 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em42
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em43
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Magistrates' Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e29
001-85489_a2_em44
QUANTITY
QUASI
TRL 213,548,4000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e30
001-85489_a2_em45
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Criminal Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e28
001-85489_a2_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
26 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e31
001-85489_a2_em47
DATETIME
NO_MASK
6 February 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e30
001-85489_a2_em48
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Criminal Court
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001-85489_a2_e32
001-85489_a2_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
16 December 2002
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001-85489_a2_e33
001-85489_a2_em50
PERSON
QUASI
Mr N.B.
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001-85489_a2_e34
001-85489_a2_em51
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Cassation
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001-85489_a2_e35
001-85489_a2_em52
DATETIME
QUASI
29 January 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e34
001-85489_a2_em53
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Cassation
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e34
001-85489_a2_em54
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Cassation
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001-85489_a2_e36
001-85489_a2_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
14 April 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e34
001-85489_a2_em56
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Cassation
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001-85489_a2_e30
001-85489_a2_em57
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Criminal Court
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001-85489_a2_e31
001-85489_a2_em58
DATETIME
NO_MASK
6 February 2002
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001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em59
LOC
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em43
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em60
ORG
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em43
Izmir Magistrates' Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e37
001-85489_a2_em61
DATETIME
NO_MASK
14 May 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em62
LOC
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em43
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em63
ORG
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em43
Izmir Magistrates' Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e38
001-85489_a2_em64
DATETIME
QUASI
14 July
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e39
001-85489_a2_em65
DATETIME
QUASI
7 August
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e40
001-85489_a2_em66
DATETIME
QUASI
22 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e41
001-85489_a2_em67
QUANTITY
QUASI
three hearings
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001-85489_a2_e40
001-85489_a2_em68
DATETIME
QUASI
22 October 2003
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em69
ORG
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em43
Magistrates' Court
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001-85489_a2_e42
001-85489_a2_em70
DATETIME
QUASI
24 April 2003
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001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em71
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
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001-85489_a2_e43
001-85489_a2_em72
DATETIME
QUASI
25 February 2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e34
001-85489_a2_em73
ORG
NO_MASK
Court of Cassation
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em74
ORG
QUASI
Izmir Magistrates' Court
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correct
001-85489_a2_e44
001-85489_a2_em75
ORG
QUASI
Governorship of Izmir
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001-85489_a2_e45
001-85489_a2_em76
DATETIME
QUASI
9 October 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em77
ORG
NO_MASK
Association
POLITICS
check
001-85489_a2_e46
001-85489_a2_em78
MISC
QUASI
“Platform of Conscientious Objectors to War”
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e47
001-85489_a2_em79
LOC
NO_MASK
United States of America (USA)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e48
001-85489_a2_em80
LOC
NO_MASK
Afghanistan
POLITICS
insert
001-85489_a2_e46
001-85489_a2_em81
MISC
QUASI
001-85489_a2_em78
“Platform of Conscientious Objectors to War”
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e49
001-85489_a2_em82
QUANTITY
QUASI
TRL 142,366,000
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e26
001-85489_a2_em83
DATETIME
QUASI
ten days
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001-85489_a2_e27
001-85489_a2_em84
DATETIME
QUASI
3 December 2001
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e16
001-85489_a2_em85
ORG
NO_MASK
Association
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e4
001-85489_a2_em86
DEM
QUASI
Turkish
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001-85489_a2_e50
001-85489_a2_em87
DATETIME
QUASI
31 December 2001
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001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em88
LOC
QUASI
Izmir
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e11
001-85489_a2_em89
ORG
QUASI
Magistrates' Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-85489_a2_e51
001-85489_a2_em90
CODE
QUASI
2001/2160
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-85489_a2_e52
001-85489_a2_em91
QUANTITY
QUASI
TRL 213,548,400
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-85489_a2_e53
001-85489_a2_em92
DATETIME
QUASI
18 February 2002
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
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001-85489_a2_e54
001-85489_a2_em93
ORG
QUASI
İzmir Criminal Court
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001-85489_a2_e55
001-85489_a2_em94
DATETIME
QUASI
20 February 2002
Ecevit Piroğlu
TUR
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Ecevit Piroğlu