Susma to hold freedom of speech events in İzmir

Events on March 17 to focus on arts, media and the law…


Susma Platform will hold a series of events under the title Freedom of Expression and our Rights under the State of Emergency on Saturday, March 17 in İzmir at the Center for Architecture bringing together renowned experts in the fields of art, media and law.

The events will begin with a presentation from the Susma Platform on its report on Censorship and Self-Censorship in Turkey and its work since its foundation in September 2016.

Among the speakers of the first panel will be director Nejla Demirci who, despite being subject to pressure, has continued filming the documentary on two civil servants who have lost their jobs by emergency decree. Demirci will be joined by Asena Günal, who is one of the founders of Siyah Bant, which documents cases of censorship, as well as the coordinator of the Depo, a cultural center established in Istanbul by the businessman Osman Kavala. The third guest of the panel will be Şevket Uyanık, member of the board of the Common Knowledge and Communication Association (TBID) and an expert on digital surveillance and censorship.

A second panel entitled Lawyers Speak About Journalist Trials will feature three attorneys who are taking an active part in high-profile media trials. Bahri Belen, Ergin Cinmen and Figen Çalıkuşu will discuss the legal process against journalists and its wider implications for the rule of law.

Former head of Penal Department at the Supreme Court of Appeals as well as a prominent scholar, Prof. Dr. Sami Selçuk will give a keynote speech under the title of Our Rights and the Law during the third and last session of the events. 

The events will start at 1 p.m. and close at 6:30 p.m.

The events are free but RSVP is required to attend.

For RSVP please contact: susmaplatformu@gmail.com

For the detailed program: https://www.facebook.com/events/2028137777424201/