Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA2478
2006-05-04 14:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TIP IN TURKEY: TURKISH MEDIA ATTENTION, April 1-15,

Tags:  PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 16 ANKARA 002478 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: TURKISH MEDIA ATTENTION, April 1-15,
2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 16 ANKARA 002478

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: TURKISH MEDIA ATTENTION, April 1-15,
2006


1. In response to G/TIP inquiries, national and
international media sources published the following articles
about TIP in Turkey. Text of articles originally published
in Turkish is provided through unofficial Embassy
translation.


2. Published by Vatan on Monday, April 3:

TITLE: Mobile Wedding Camouflages Prostitution

BEGIN TEXT: It was determined that prostitution gangs in
big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara were making women
from the Eastern Bloc countries marry street children and
thus avoid their deportation by obtaining Turkish
citizenship for them. "Vatan" learned about these "fast"
marriages and found the "husbands" who were convinced to
marry in return for 100 YTL (about 80 USD). Thus, they shed
light on the details of such marriages. It was determined
that many of the street children over 18 were used for such
marriages.

Cuneyt Yildiz from Dogubeyazit, Agri, too, is one of them.
Yildiz got the offer from a friend doing on his eighth year
on the streets in 2003. His friend asked, "You are marrying
a foreign woman and they pay you 100 YTL. Are you
interested?" He accepted the offer immediately without much
thinking and he followed his friend to a gathering place in
Dolapdere (Istanbul). There, a well-dressed man and three
children whom he knew from the streets were waiting. They
went to a photographer. After getting their pictures taken,
they took a cab. They stopped in front of a textile plant
in Caglayan. On the second floor of the plant, there were
150 very pretty women and some men who looked like they were
Mafia members. There were a lot of substance addicts in
rags as well. Cuneyt said, "For 100 YTL we would marry and
get a divorce in three months. They also offered 2400
Euros. They asked us to pick a girl. I picked a blonde. I
was feeling dizzy anyway. I wanted to take the money and
leave immediately. Later somebody came. He was the marriage
magistrate. We signed the book and left."

Other children, too, tell similar stories. Only the

addresses where marriages took place and the provinces are
different. For example, marriages that took place in
Caglayan look as though they were in Batman, those in
Gungoren in Adana, and those in Cevizlibag in Gemlik.

It is understood that marriage magistrates from other
provinces come to Istanbul with their official marriage
books, and, after performing these marriages, they go back
to their towns. According to "Vatan" research, it was N.T.
from the Batman Municipality and O.A. from the Gemlik
Municipality who officiated such marriages in Batman, Bursa
and Seyhan. It was also determined that these two people in
the past forged marriages with foreign women and that they
were under investigation.

Following his marriage, Cuneyt, with the support of Yusuf
Kulca, President of the Children of Hope Foundation,
received treatment and returned to his family. When he
decided to marry, he remembered his fraudulent marriage. He
immediately returned to Istanbul and went to the population
registrant's office. He learned what he was afraid to hear:
he was still married. According to the registration, he
married in Batman and it was registered in that province's
population registration. Now he is trying to get a divorce.

Emre Ture said, "We were in Dolmabahce in 2003 and we were
high. A friend named Feristah came and said, `You could
marry a foreign woman for three months and you get paid both
while marrying and while getting a divorce. Are you
interested?' I agreed. Other friends, too, agreed. After
we got our pictures taken, we got married at the Tercuman
houses in Cevizlibag." END TEXT.


3. Published by Sabah on Wednesday, April 5:

TITLE: We were kept in the same room with Natashas

BEGIN TEXT: Didem Aksu, who was detained during the
prostitution operation, told us what she went through. She
said, "I knew these people who were presented as
prostitution barons as managers of artists. They bargained
with businessmen without notifying us. We were detained
when my name and Ece Gursel's name were mentioned during
phone conversations. Just like Ece, they said I could file
a court case against these people. The police set Gursel
free, but they sent the rest of us to the venereal disease
hospital. There we were kept in the same room with
Natashas. It was not fair." END TEXT.

4. Published by Sabah on Wednesday, April 5:
TITLE: Models released, soccer players testified

BEGIN TEXT: Following the testimony of 22 models, soccer
players, too, testified. The soccer players came to the
police department late in the evening to avoid the media.

The 22 models who were detained during the Vice Squad's
Barbie Operation were released after completing the
necessary paperwork. Following their testimony, several
soccer players were invited in. They arrived late in order
not to be caught by journalists. Meanwhile, the
interrogation of four people who were allegedly involved in
prostitution, including one woman, continued.

Nine people, including Sinem Umas, a participant of the TV
program, "Will you be my bride?" and Hulya Yamanoglu from
"Somebody is watching us," and singer Fulden Uras, were
taken to the venereal disease hospital to get a medical
check-up at 19:00 hrs the other evening. The second group
was taken to the hospital the same night around 01:30 hrs.
The last group was taken during the morning hours yesterday.
Models, including Hulya Yamanoglu, answered questions as
they were taken to the hospital. Yamanoglu did not accept
the allegations and said, "A friend's phone book had many
numbers and that was why I was invited to give my
testimony."

Muge Uras, mother of Fulden Uras, who was taken to the
hospital, said, "They let Ece Gursel go and detained my
daughter. They are taking her to this hospital as if she
has committed a very bad crime."

Dincer D. has connections with Ejder T., who was arrested in
connection with a raid called Operation Cat one and a half
months ago. Dincer D. was detained for marketing women.
After Dincer D., police also reached women traffickers
Bulent T., Suat Y. and Aysel T. END TEXT.


5. Published by Sabah on Wednesday, April 5:

TITLE: What do jurists say?

BEGIN TEXT: Detention of models for alleged prostitution
brought an old controversy back on the agenda. Jurists
commented on the question of whether a man who pays for
prostitution and a woman who is involved in prostitution
would get punished. Only encouraging and mediating for
prostitution is a crime.

Associate Professor Adem Sozuer, Faculty of Law, Istanbul
University: "According to the penal code, only mediating
and encouraging prostitution is a crime. It is out of the
question to punish a person who prostitutes for money. The
law foresees treatment for such people and no punishment.
The same thing is true for men who are involved in
prostitution in return for money."

Associate Professor Umit Kocasakal, Faculty of Law,
Galatasaray University: "According to the law, not the
prostitution, but encouraging people into prostitution is a
crime. So there is no punishment for men and women who are
involved in prostitution in return for money. I believe
those who were detained were taken into custody for other
reasons. There are certain procedures concerning venereal
diseases. Nothing else. One needs to know the details of
the incident."

Professor Bahri Ozturk, Faculty of Law: "Being involved in
prostitution is not a crime according to the penal code. In
other words, there is no punishment for men and women who
are involved in prostitution. Encouraging and mediating for
prostitution is a crime. Clients are not prosecuted. If
the detained women were involved only in prostitution, then
they should not be subject to any legal action." END TEXT.


6. Reported by Hurriyet on Thursday, April 6:

TITLE: Those detained in the Barbie Operation can sue
officials

BEGIN TEXT: The Barbie Operation, which was conducted as a
result of the testimony of suspects detained in a drug raid
and after phone tapping, led to controversy. Famous singers
and models claimed that the police exposed them without any
evidence and expressed their distress. Jurists argued that
the treatment of the women was against domestic and
international law. They said that those who were detained
had the right to file punitive damage claims. Attorney Ufuk
Erkunt told Hurriyet, "Turkey has signed international
agreements on prostitution. The Paris Agreement, the 1933
Geneva Act on trafficking in persons, the 1949 Human
Trafficking Convention. According to all these agreements,
the principle is to prevent the crime and not to accuse the
women."

"According to Article 227, women are victims. According to
the law, they should not be punished, but treated. These
provisions do not require punishment for those who are
involved in prostitution, but to enjoy security measures.
Those who are responsible are the ones who mediated and
those who earned a benefit are the mediators."

"Articles 90 and 91 of the Criminal Procedures Law list one
by one the conditions for detention. But if the women were
not responsible for the crime and if they are witnesses,
they should not have been detained. It is not legal to take
them from their homes in the morning. They can only be
invited to give their testimony, not as a suspect.

Exposing women on TV and the way the incident was reflected
in the media were violations of their individual rights,
which should be under constitutional guarantee. It is not
in the regulations to take them to the venereal disease
hospital. Each of them can file a punitive damages case for
the violation of their individual rights." END TEXT.


7. An op-ed by Ufuk Koroglu, published by Zaman on
Thursday, April 6:

TITLE: Some model agencies are like prostitution centers

BEGIN TEXT: When famous models, singers and actresses of
the show world were detained and interrogated as part of a
prostitution operation, people began to focus on the dark
points of the night life.

The police officials determined that drugs and prostitution
were an indispensable part of the night life. A police
official said, "Drugs and prostitution go hand-in-hand.
Some of those involved have certain abilities; others are
pretty, and still others have some unique physical
characteristics. They are encouraged by people around them
to appear on TV and thus become famous. In the prostitution
sector, the more famous you are, the higher your price goes.
Money earned from prostitution is used for drugs."

He added that celebrities regard drugs as an element to
increase performance. Friends, too, play an important part.
"Those that they have around are people who are already
involved in criminal acts. Whenever they want, they get
this substance from those friends," he noted.

Another police official noted that there were many model
agencies in Istanbul which actually operate as prostitution
centers. He said, "Young people who go to an agency to
become a model are dragged into prostitution. Girls and
boys are deliberately put in the same rooms to sleep
together. Youngsters who apply to these places to become a
model are being dragged into prostitution." Another police
official added, "They first make drug addicts of girls who
want to become famous drug addicts. Thus, they earn money
both from drugs and prostitution. They encourage those who
have talent to appear on TV programs and become known by the
public. The more famous a person is, the more his/her price
goes up. Money raised from prostitution goes to drugs.
When police capture them, they get very irritated. They
listen to others who say that media attention, whether good
or bad, is a good thing."

During the prostitution raid by the Public Order Department
of the Istanbul Police, famous celebrities were detained.
Twenty women, including, singer Fulden Uras, model and
singer Berna Arici, her sister Esra Arici, model Gulten
Kosavali, Aylin Poyraz, Sinem Umas from the TV program, "We
are Getting Married," Hulya Yamanoglu from the TV program
"Somebody is watching us," Didem Aksu and presenter Ozlem
Ertem were interrogated for being together with men in
return for money. Meanwhile, during a drug operation last
week by the Narcotics Police, singer Fatih Urek and belly
dancer Leyla Adali were taken to the police department to
testify on whether they were using cocaine.

Police conducted operations against the entertainment world
not only last week, but earlier. Celebrities such as
singers Yildiz Tilbe and Atilla Tas, models Ebru Salli,
Sevda Demirel, Sinem Uretmen, belly dancers Sibel Gokce and
Leyla Adali were detained a couple of times for using drugs.

Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah said that some of
the women who were detained by the Vice Squad during the
Barbie Operation cried on TV programs and tried to deceive
the citizens. He said that one should wait a little bit
more before making such programs and added, "It will be
useful to wait for the judicial process." He answered
questions by journalists during his press conference
yesterday. Upon a question, "Women who were involved in
this are appearing on some programs and trying to deceive
the public by crying. I wish those programs had waited a
bit longer. It will be useful to wait for the judicial
process. Our public will decide later. Whether police
acted partially or did we act when some people were involved
in certain things?"

When asked about the names of some soccer players who were
mentioned in connection with the operation, Cerrah said, "If
there were soccer players involved, I do not want to give
away their names at this stage. It is out of the question
for them to be taken to a hospital for a medical check up."
END TEXT.


8. Published by The Anatolian Times on Friday, April 7:

TITLE: Tuzmen Meets Aegean Minister Pavlidis in Athens

BEGIN TEXT: Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen met Greek
Minister of Aegean and Island Politics Aristotelis Pavlidis
in Athens today. Speaking to reporters after his meeting
with Pavlidis, Tuzmen stressed that his meeting was
extremely warm and created an atmosphere of cooperation.

"We talked on the development of trade between cities on the
Aegean coast and Greek islands. We focused on how we can
send fresh vegetables and fruits to the islands," said
Tuzmen.

Minister Tuzmen noted that delays caused by laboratory tests
and the issuance of certificates make the trade of fresh
vegetables and fruits difficult.

"We have invited a Greek delegation of observers who can
help in overcoming the delays in the food sector. Trade
between Turkey and Greece has tripled in the past three
years. If we can share the same sea, we can also share the
global market," expressed Tuzmen.

Tuzmen commented that he will visit Aegean islands with a
delegation of businessmen in October.

"I believe in the future of Greece. My Greek counterpart
Pavlidis believes in the future of Turkey," stated Tuzmen.

According to Pavlidis, Tuzmen and he talked abouton various
issues, including daily excursions to the Greek islands from
Turkey and human trafficking from Turkey to Greek islands.

Tuzmen will return to Turkey after attending a lunch hosted
by Turkish-Greek Business Council Greece Co-chair Panayotis
Kucikos. END TEXT.


9. Published by Vatan on Saturday, April 8:

TITLE: Hulya Yamanoglu, mother of two, who was exposed in
the "Barbie Operation" said, "My daughter does not talk to
me and my three-month relationship has ended."
BEGIN TEXT: Q: You were detained during the Istanbul
police's "Barbie Operation" with the allegation you were
practicing prostitution. What happened?
A: I woke up at 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning when the door
bell rang. I thought that it was the wrong door and looked
out through the peephole. There were three people who
identified themselves as the police. My son is doing his
military service and as I opened the door the first thing
that I thought of was that something had happened to him.
They said, "Take your phone with you. We will go to the
police station. We cannot say anything more. We will tell
you everything there." They also asked whether my cell
phone was registered in my name. When I heard this, I
thought that it might be an incident over a stolen phone.

Q: What happened at the police station? Were you upset
that you were exposed?

A: We first went to the Sisli Etfal Hospital to confirm
that there was no use of force. They said that we would
come back after going to the Gayrettepe Police Department.
When we arrived at the station, an army of journalists were
waiting at the gate. People tried to cover their faces. I
did not feel the inclination to do so, since I had no idea
and I did not feel guilty for anything. The journalists
told me that I would be taken to the Vice Squad.

Q: It was reported that 23 people were detained. Is this
figure right? Do you know the others?

A: I did not count them one by one, but this is the figure
I know. Most of my information is from the media or from
the clubs that I go to get clients. They took us to the
detention center by telling us, "There will be an
announcement, but first let us go downstairs where you will
be more comfortable and where you can have tea or coffee."

Q: Have you ever been in a jail before?

A: This was the first time ever. I had never experienced
or seen any such place except for in the movies.

Q: How did they treat you at the police department? What
did you go through?

A: We generally get scared when we hear about the police or
a jail, but this was not the case at all. They treated us
very nicely. They kept coming to check on whether we needed
anything. Then came the announcement: "You know some
people. Dincer D., Bulent T., Suat Y., and a very fat woman
named `Deaf Aysel,' whom I had never met before. They are
involved in human trafficking. In the past, you had phone
conversations with them. You will testify." These people
were under surveillance for eight months and their phones
were tapped. They said, "Let nobody deny this since we have
the phone records." Each of us testified. The
interrogation ended at 03:30 hrs. (the next day). During
the interrogation, they said, "You are not criminals. You
are here only to testify. We already apprehended those who
are responsible. Why do these people have your phone
numbers? How close are you to them? Were you hurt? Do you
want to file an official complaint? We want to know this."

Q: Did they want you to file an official complaint?

A: The more people who file complaints, the more apparent
the crimes will be. The police thanked me for being open.
When I said that I would not file a complaint, they said,
"You hurt us. We expected you to file such a complaint."
This was such a big blow to me.

Q: Was there anyone who admitted that she was involved in
prostitution through these people?

A: There were some people within that group. There were
those who admitted that this is what happened. I heard from
them later that such things were done in return for $300-500
or $1000-2000.

Q: How did you meet the men who allegedly were involved in
trafficking in women?
A: I knew the three names mentioned, except for Aysel T.
There are some night clubs, particularly in Taksim, that I
visit. They were among the groups that I met there and said
"hello" to each other.

Q: How did they find your phone number?

A: I am the management director of a place. I give
everyone my business card. Each person I meet is a
potential client.

Q: How did the most recent incident affect you?

A: I was on the verge of quitting since I could not manage
to get enough clients to go to the place. When this
incident happened, my boss did not call me. My daughter
does not speak to me. She is doing this, not because she
does not believe in me, but because she does not know how to
explain this to others. I lost my three-month affair. My
mother cried a lot and I am afraid something may happen to
her since she has high blood pressure.

Q: You are living in a luxurious apartment in Etiler.

A: Currently I cannot pay my bills. I have been living in
this house for seven years. The normal rent for my place
begins at 1,300 YTL (a little under $1,000). Since I am a
long-term tenant, my rent is half that price. My landlord
is very nice. I now am in a position not to be able to give
pocket money to my daughter and not to be able to send any
money to my son. I even am in debt to the grocer.

Q: Did you talk to Suat Y. frequently?

A: He called every now and again, but not more than five
times total. He came over to my house once to have coffee.
I went to his place as well. He lives in Ulus. He was very
hospitable.

Q: Did you learn that Suat Y. was a pimp when you were
detained?

A: One day we met again at the club. Somebody at my table
said, "Where did you meet this man? Do you not know what
his profession is? He is a pimp. Do not be very close to
him." I responded, "He does not look like one. Are you
sure?" I suffered a lot because of prejudices stemming from
the Big Brother House. He later called me one more time and
offered to introduce me to some people. When I refused, he
said, "I have a very good friend. May I give him your phone
number? Can he call you as a friend?" Since I did not see
any harm, I said he could.

Q: Was he Dincer D.?

A: Dincer D. called me a week later. He said that there
were a lot of people at the night club who wondered whether
I would be involved in such a thing and since I exchanged
pleasantries with them, those people told him that they had
a crush on me. He told me that although I was not involved
in such a thing, would I consider being involved.

Q: Did you not show any reaction to these people since you
were afraid of them?

A: I was not afraid at all, but after Dincer D.'s phone
call, I felt uneasy. I called Suat Y. and told him that
this was not the type of conversation I would have and that
even if I were starving, I would not do such a thing. I
asked him to tell that to Dincer D. They never called me
again. Months later, we bumped into each other a few times.
We only exchanged greetings.

Q: What do Suat Y. and Dincer D. look like?

A: Suat is 28 years old. He is good looking. He has a
clean face. Looks like a model. Dincer D. is a man who
laughs a lot. He has bright eyes. I believe he must be
around 30.

Q: Are these people working as an organization?

A: I have had meetings with Suat Y. and Dincer D. It was
around eight months ago. I was unemployed and in a
difficult situation. First Suat Y. called me. After asking
how I was, he said, "Hulya, you are a pretty woman. I have
some people around me. We like you. We know that you are
having hard times. Are you interested in meeting these
men?" Since he was a very decent person who spoke politely,
I kindly said, "Thank you. How thoughtful of you." He
said, "I checked. Everybody says that Hulya does not do
this for money. She wants love. That is why she is having
a hard time. She is stupid." He also asked whether there
was anybody in my life. When I said there was not, he
suggested introducing me to some people who would relieve me
financially. I told him, "It is not in my spirit. I am a
very natural woman. If I was going to do it, I would have
done it when I was younger. I have two children. One of
them is in the military."

Q: Why did you talk for such a long time to a person who
made such an indecent proposal?

A: We were not close at all. But since he was very polite,
I could not respond impolitely. I did not know then that he
was doing this type of work.

Q: Did you not find the proposal strange?

A: No. He watched me on the Big Brother House. He thought
that I was a very sweet woman who suffered a lot and
wondered why I was not happy. I did not feel suspicious at
all. He was talking to me in a friendly fashion. END TEXT.


10. Reported by the Turkish Daily News on Sunday, April 9:

TITLE: UN in charge of creating "Women First Cities" in
Turkey

BEGIN TEXT: "Through this program, we aim at improving
political and budgetary commitment and at increasing the
ability of local government and NGOs to promote and protect
women and girls' rights and raise local awareness about
women and girls' rights," say UN Joint Program Manager
Senol.

Can a democratic country afford to be gender blind? Does
Turkey, a country moving ahead toward becoming a member of
the European Union for the democratic future of its own
people, have the luxury of being gender blind?

Replying "no" in response to the questions above, resources
from the United Nations, bilateral donors and the private
sector and partners with the Interior Ministry have been
combined through a joint UN program designed in line with
the principle that involving women and men in decision-
making processes is a sine qua non in a democratic society.

Last month, the day before marking the March 8 International
Women's Day in the Turkish capital, the historicalal Ankara
Palace hosted a ceremony for the launching of the program.
The two-year UN Joint Gender Program was publicly launched
by Kemal Dervis, the Turkish head of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP),in front of 300 members of
Parliament, mayors, senior government officials,
nongovernmental organizations, ambassadors, UN staff and
representatives of the press.

Nearly one month has passed since the launch of the program.
UN Joint Program Manager Nevin Senol, during an interview
with the Turkish Daily News, sounded hopeful and determined
about the program that is currently ongoing in six different
cities - Izmir, Kars, Van, Sanliurfa, Nevsehir and Trabzon -
in order to promote and protect women and girls' human
rights through activities.

"Through this program, we aim at improving political and
budgetary commitment and at increasing the ability of local
government and NGOs to promote and protect women and girls'
rights and raise local awareness about women and girls'
rights," Senol said.

In brief, what the program is trying to realize is
simultaneously increasing local ability while also changing
the deeply rooted male-centered stance among local
administrations.

The joint program is supported by the UN agencies and
international organizations that have offices in Turkey:
UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, UNHCR, WHO, FAO, IOM and UNFPA.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Turkey office,
where Senol is currently working, is also the executive
agency of the program.

Turkey must obviously strive for equality and the
representation of women and men in decision-making processes
and take the opportunities to achieve both these goals. It
has overhauled its civil and penal codes to increase the
rights of women and children. It has recognized rape in
marriage and sexual harassment as crimes and has included
tougher measures against rape, pedophilia, human trafficking
and torture.

The country is, however, struggling to stem the practice of
"honor killings" - the killing of girls or women by
relatives for allegedly disgracing the family. Women's
groups say domestic violence levels are high.

Police figures released earlier this year showed that close
to 2,000 people had been killed in Turkey in the past six
years as victims of honor killings or blood feuds.

A thorny path towards "deep change of mentality":

Only a day before the UN joint program was launched, a
senior EU official praised legal reforms that have been
carried out in Turkey to improve the rights of women,
however, warned at the same time that Turkey also needed a
"change of mentality" regarding the general approach towards
women.

Vladimir Spidla, the EU commissioner for employment, social
affairs and equal opportunity, was speaking at a press
conference in Ankara, where he arrived over the weekend to
support women ahead of the March 8 International Women's
Day. Last year, Turkish police severely beat women
demonstrators during a protest march organized to mark the
day, sparking condemnation from the EU.

"Of course Turkey has made huge progress, but there is a
need for a deep change of mentality," toward women, Spidla
said.

"The issue of equal opportunity is an essential component in
your country's preparations for future EU accession. The
timing of my visit also reflects the importance that the
European Commission attaches to this issue, as a date close
to International Women's Day was deliberately chosen,"
Spidla said at a seminar ahead of the press conference.

The UN Joint Gender Program that is being implemented by the
United Nations, the Ministry of the Interior and the
Association for Training and Supporting Women Candidates (KA-
DER) will hopefully carry out the "deep change of mentality"
that was appropriately addressed by Spidla.

Senol explained that the six cities involved in the program
were chosen according to municipal interest and ability to
participate in the program and perceived needs as expressed
in preliminary city visits. These cities were selected to
demonstrate how participatory and coordinated cross-sectoral
approaches can improve services, augment resource
availability and improve the lives of girls and women in a
variety of settings.

Priority actions are being identified through a
participatory planning process involving all stakeholders.
These priority areas are being drawn from the following:
education, employment, reproductive health, violence against
women, trafficking, asylum seekers, refugees and internally
displaced people.

"Once identified, stakeholders will work together to design
five-year local action plans," Senol said.

The program will also support the start-up of local action
plan implementation. By the end of the program a financial
national scaling-up model will be in place and the six
cities will be evaluated for certification as "Women First
Cities" based on commonly agreed-upon criteria. END TEXT.


11. Reported by Hurriyet on Monday, April 10:

TITLE: They cut the throat of the girl who ran away from
home

BEGIN TEXT: The body found in the woods around Sivritepe on
the Datca Highway was that of Done Bicer (17),who ran away
from her home in Ortaca 15 days ago.

It was determined that she was forced into prostitution and
when she objected, she was stabbed seven times in the chest.
Her throat was cut as well.

In connection with the incident, women named M.Y. (30),Y.O.
(20) and C.O. (25) were detained in the Beldibi district and
they were sent to the judicial hall on manslaughter and
forcing a minor into prostitution charges. END TEXT.


12. Reported by Zaman on Monday, April 10:

TITLE: Girl slain by prostitution gang

BEGIN TEXT: The body found next to the Marmara-Datca
Highway belonged to Done Bicer (17),who had run away from
home 15 days ago. In connection with the incident, three
people, including one woman, were captured. Bicer's family
had notified the police of her disappearance.

Bicer went to Marmaris and met with M.Y. (30),Y.O. (25),
and his sister C.O. (20),who forced her into prostitution.
After being with some men, Bicer refused to be involved in
prostitution and argued. Those individuals reportedly
killed Bicer since she might have tipped off security
forces. The three reportedly confessed their crime and
after would be sent to the court after interrogation. END
TEXT.


13. Reported by Radikal on Wednesday, April 12:

TITLE: Models Victimized

BEGIN TEXT: In the indictment, the women who were taken
from their homes and exposed as they came to the police
department during the prostitution operation code-named
"Barbie," were mentioned as victims.

A total of up to 64 years' imprisonment was demanded for
four people who forced them into prostitution.

Twenty-three women, who were detained during a police
operation last week and among whom were some famous people,
tried to hide their faces as they were taken out of the
police car.

When the exposure of the women at the police station was
criticized, Istanbul provincial police chief Celalettin
Cerrah responded saying, "The police will not expose
honorable people."

The women said that they would sue the Interior Ministry and
those who gave out their names. END TEXT.


14. Reported by Sabah and Hurriyet on Wednesday, April 12:

TITLE: Disclosed names are victims in the case

BEGIN TEXT: In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul
Public Chief Prosecutor, it was stated that the phones of
Dincer Dincsoy, Suat Yildiz and Bulent Tetik were tapped by
the police from July 29, 2005 to February 24, 2006. It was
noted that the suspects used their cell phones for the
victims and served as mediator and bargained for them to be
involved in prostitution in return for money.

It was also stated that the suspects made some of the
victims use their own houses for prostitution, in return for
living expenses. The suspects will be tried on charges of
encouraging and mediating prostitution and for providing
locations for this purpose.
Imprisonment from 32 to 64 years was demanded for Dincer
Dincsoy, from 14 to 28 years for Bulent Tetik and 24 to 48
years for Suat Yildiz. Aysel Erentok, the suspect who was
released pending trial, will face 2 to 4 years'
imprisonment.

The victims are: (A list of 22 names of victims given).

In the indictment, the names of the following soccer players
were mentioned as witnesses: (5 soccer players' names were
given).

Other witnesses were: (7 names given).

Taped conversations.

July 23, 2005, 23:29 hours: A soccer player asked the pimp
to send him a woman. He proposed a name, but the soccer
player said that he liked other women. The same day he
called another woman on her cell phone. He asked whether
she could go. She said that right at that time she was
going to Reina (expensive and exclusive Istanbul nightclub)
and that she could go later.

July 30, 2005, 15:47 hours: The soccer player asked him to
send him one of the women that he always sees. The pimp
called a woman and told her that the soccer player was
waiting for her. She accepted. She asked for the apartment
number of the soccer player. She was told that the soccer
player would send $300 by two people after the business was
concluded.

August 12, 2005, 07:00 hours: The soccer player said that
he would be in Turkey at 06:00 hours the next day and asked
for the girl "from Germany" to be kept ready.

September 13, 2005, 00:11 hours: The pimp sent a message to
the soccer player and notified him that he would give $400
to the girl and $100 to him and added, "You would love this
baby."

August 1, 2005, 00:21 hours: A woman who called the pimp
asked for a girl for two hours and offered $300. At 00:34
hours the girl, "X," called the pimp and listed her
hesitations for entering into a lesbian relationship. She
asked the pimp to explain to the client that she might be
acting too enthusiastic/willing for this reason.

August 8, 2005, 15:55 hours: The pimp called a woman and
notified her that the 30th richest man in India would be in
Turkey on Wednesday and that he gave the names of two women.
The woman said that the man gave a lot of money and that she
could also take a third person.

Experts: Police acted unlawfully

Jurists bitterly criticized the police operation. Despite
announcements by the police, names of the women were
mentioned as victims in the indictment.

Kazim Kolcuoglu, President of the Istanbul Bar Association:
According to laws, prostitution is not a crime, but
mediating for prostitution is. For capturing mediators,
there should be victims involved. There must be people who
are used. The way these women were detained was very wrong
according to the new penal code. It was against the
constitution and the Human Rights Convention as well. Since
it involves an investigation, you cannot detain them. Now
they show them as victims. How can this happen? While
preparing the document, the police spoke with slang and not
with the words of the law. All of those women should sue
(the police).

Yucel Sayman, Former President of the Istanbul Bar
Association: Police always behave like this. They
interpret the law for themselves. It is not correct legally
speaking. It was also seen as an effort to intimidate these
people. If they sue them for compensation for interfering
into their private lives, they would win. It is unlawful
for them to be forced into the venereal disease hospital.
END TEXT.


15. Reported by Aksam on Wednesday, April 12:

TITLE: First exposed, then called a victim

BEGIN TEXT: In the indictment of the Istanbul Chief Public
Prosecutor, it was stated that the phones of Dincer D., Suat
Y., and Bulent T. were tapped from July 29, 2005 to February
24, 2006.

As a result of tapping, it was determined that they
encouraged victims to be involved in prostitution, in return
for money, and that they provided mediation and the medium
for prostitution.

According to the indictment, these three suspects were
bargaining and mediating for the victims to be involved in
prostitution with men. They brought some of the victims
together with men and allowed their houses to be used for
their meetings. The suspects took some of the money that
the victims received for prostitution. Aysel E. also
mediated for prostitution.

Up to four years imprisonment was demanded for the four
suspects. It was also requested that Dincer D. be punished
separately for 16 victims, Suat Y. for 12 victims, and
Bulent T. for seven victims. Ayse E. would also be punished
based on the same article.

In the indictment, the 23 models and singers who allegedly
were involved in prostitution, based on Article 223, were
referred to as victims.

Article 223 of the Turkish Penal Code considers women who
are forced into prostitution as victims. END TEXT.


16. Op-ed piece written by Balcicek Pamir and published in
Sabah on Wednesday, April 12:

TITLE: If a victim, what kind of treatment is this?

BEGIN TEXT: What did the Istanbul Police Chief say? "Our
police definitely would not like to expose honorable/honest
people."

I mean the . . . operation conducted by the Vice Squad.
Remember the women detained for having sex with famous
people? I can not spell out the name of the operation
because the company (Barbie) objected. They certainly are
right. The little girls' dolls are mentioned along with
prostitution. Can you believe it?

Let us talk about Celallettin Cerah's reference to
"honorable/honest people." He already reached a conviction.
He decided on who is a criminal and who is honest. He also
added, "It is very useful to wait for the judicial process."
Cerrah can wait for the result. Yesterday there was another
development and 144 years were demanded for the suspects in
the operation. Everyone might have thought that Cerrah was
right. But do not. Only four people were detained during
that operation. Charges of encouraging and mediating for
prostitution, and providing venues for these acts were
filed. Imprisonment from 72 to 144 years was demanded.
What about the women?

Those models, TV stars and presenters. Hold on to your
seats. The 23 women whose names were mentioned in the
operation were considered as victims. Even when the police
claimed that they were dishonorable/dishonest!

Is there prostitution? How deep were these women involved?
I do not know. I am curious about something else.

If you are going to call all these women victims, why did
you project the image that they were prostitutes? Were they
victims or prostitutes?

The four suspects carried out the bargaining in the name of
the victims. They mediated for the prostitution of the
victims. Some of them even allowed the use of their houses.
Did they receive money in return? Certainly.

Let us look at the other victims. A few soccer players, a
former minister, a former president of a sports club. What
did they do? They got to meet these women through those
four people who are on trial and facing 144 years in jail.
They bargained and they have been with these women. That is
not what I am saying. This is the allegation. Neither
their names, nor their pictures were disclosed. Nobody sent
them to a hospital for a medical check-up. They spent the
night at home with their wives. Some of them might have
taken their wives to Paper Moon for dinner. It is in
fashion now, you know. Be disloyal to your wife and take
her out to dinner in the evening.

What did the police chief say? "I do not want to disclose
the names of the soccer players at this stage." Why? Are
those the real victims? END TEXT.

17. Reported by Vatan on Wednesday, April 12:

TITLE: Officially victims

BEGIN TEXT: In the very controversial Barbie Operation's
indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public
Prosecutor, the names of 23 women including celebrities such
as Fulden Uras, Sinem Umas and Hulya Yamanoglu were
mentioned as victims. The indictment stated that the phones
of Dincer Dincsoy, Suat Yildiz and Bulent Tetik were tapped
from July 29, 2005 to February 24, 2006, by Istanbul police
teams. It was stated that the suspects, on various
occasions through their cell phones, mediated and bargained
for the victims to be involved in prostitution in return for
money. The suspects allowed some of the victims to use
their homes for prostitution and in return received some
money.

Charges were filed based on the second paragraph of Article
227 of the Turkish Penal Code. Each suspect's punishment
for mediating, encouraging prostitution, and providing the
venue would be multiplied by the number of victims involved.

Thus, Dincer Dincsoy will face 32-64 years, Bulent Tetik
from 14-28 years, and Suat Yildiz from 24-48 years. Aysel
Erentok faces 2-4 years. The second paragraph of Article
227 foresees two to four years' imprisonment for those who
mediate, encourage prostitution and for providing the
location/venue for this purpose.

The indictment referred to the phone conversations of
witnesses such as Sergen Yalcin, Hasan Sas and Ece Gursel.

Soccer player Sergen Yalcin and suspect Dincer Dincsoy
talked on November 9, 2005, at 01:53 hrs:
D: She will be there in 10 minutes.
S: Polat Tower 144. The woman knows me, no?
D: No, she came from Izmir.
S: Is she pretty?
D: She is.
S: Brunette or blonde?
D: Brunette, brunette.
S: O.K.

Dincer Dincsoy spoke to Didem Aksoy on November 28, 2005, at
15:16 hrs:
D: Where are you?
A: I am in Ulus.
D: Can you get ready?
A: Sure.
D: I will send you across (the Bosporus). You will get
$700, including $300 for me. You will stay for one
hour.
A: O.K.
D: He wants a plump woman. You are like that, right?
A: Yes.
D: Then get ready immediately because the man said that he
was very tired. He will go home shortly. Look very
pretty.

Suspect Bulent talked to a man named Mahmut on January 26,
2006:
B: Hello.
M: Hello Bulent bey, I'm Mahmut. What did you do?
B: I talked to Berna hanim. She will charge $1000 and it
will be at her home.
M: O.K.
B: The other lady, Neriman hanim, will be for $500 again
at her home.
M: O.K. What is the situation like with the other models?
B: Go to the internet. Some charge $3000-4000. Ece
Gursel charges $10,000.

Dincer Dincsoy speaks to Fulden Aras on October 4, 2005, at
00:45 hrs:
F: Dear.
D: Now he is giving me his room number. We will be there
around 02:00 hrs. Can you pick me up around a quarter
to 2:00 from my house? It is possible?
F: I can. Who is he?
D: A girlfriend introduced him to me. He is magnificent.
I got $1500. I will give you $1000 and keep $500. You
will appreciate this one.
F: O.K. baby. END TEXT.


18. Published by Milliyet on Wednesday, April 12:

TITLE: Twenty-three women "victims"

BEGIN TEXT: The investigation on the prostitution operation
by the Istanbul Police Morals Department has been completed.
Charges were filed against four suspects, including one
woman, for involving 23 women, including models and singers,
in prostitution. Imprisonment of up to 68 years was
demanded for the suspects who were charged with mediating
and encouraging and finding the venue for prostitution.

The indictment, prepared by Istanbul Prosecutor Ali Celebi,
demanded that arrested suspects Dincer Dincsoy, Suat Yildiz
and Bulent Tetik and the currently free suspect, Aysel
Erentok, be tried for encouraging, mediating and finding the
venue for prostitution. The 23 women, detained during the
operation, were mentioned in the indictment as victims.

The indictment stated that suspect Dincsoy mediated through
cell phones for 16 victims, Yildiz for 12 and Tetik for
seven. It was stated, "The suspects took the victims
themselves to the locations that they would meet with
clients, allowed some victims to use their houses for such
meetings, took part of the money the victims got from their
clients and earned their living through this business."

The indictment also stated that suspect Erentok, who
mediated for prostitution in return for money, called Bulent
Tetik various times and requested a famous woman for a
client. It went on, "During a search in Tetik's house, he
was found with victims A.T. and A.V.A in the bedroom. Nine
sheets of paper with names and telephone numbers were found
in the house. Sixteen photographs and two cell phones used
to carry out this crime were found in the house. In the
house of Suat Yildiz, 51 photographs, 650 YTL and $200
earned from this crime, as well as two videos and two cell
phones were found. Victim B.E. was found in his home.

Since the law states that suspects should be punished for
each victim, the relevant article of the penal code will be
applied 16 times for Dincsoy, seven times for Tetik and 12
times for Yildiz. It will be used only once for Erentok.
The indictment also referred to 12 people, including soccer
players, as witnesses.

Commenting on the reaction to the exposure of the women
during the operation, Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin
Cerrah said, "Our police will not expose honorable/honest
people. The judicial process will show who has been doing
what." END TEXT.


19. Reported by Milliyet on Thursday, April 13:

BEGIN TEXT: New York Times Reported and the "Cat" Pulled
Down the Gang

BEGIN TEXT: The investigation of 16 suspects, nine of whom
were arrested, has been completed. They were detained last
month during the most comprehensive prostitution operation
of recent years, called "Cat."

The indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor,
noted that the police got the tip from the New York Times
article entitled, "Is Turkey Happy to be a Market for
Women?" and dated June 2005. The article was quoted by
Turkey's national media.
The indictment demanded up to 575 years imprisonment for
Ejder Toprak, the gang leader who was accused of
establishing a gang, being a member of a gang, confining
people, sexual attack on a person, prostitution, looting and
forgery.

The indictment also noted that Toprak established an
organization and "(Along with) Other people, primarily Ejder
Toprak's wife Oksana Toprak, were bringing women by plane
from Russia, Moldova, Belarus and the Ukraine by deceiving
them. These women were met at the airport by `secretaries'
who were earlier dragged into prostitution by the gang.
They were taken to hotels and houses that belonged to the
gang."

The indictment noted that these women were either forced or
voluntarily got involved in prostitution. They were also
forced to sign promissory notes. It went on, "Women are
being rented by the hour or by the night for approximately
$100-200. The amount that each woman is supposed to get is
registered in a log and the money was given to Ejder
Toprak." END TEXT.


20. Published by Radikal on Thursday, April 13:

TITLE: Demand for 575 years for prostitution

BEGIN TEXT: A total of up to 575 years' imprisonment was
demanded for seven separate crimes allegedly committed by
Ejder Toprak, the gang leader who deceives Russian, Moldovan
and Ukrainian women with promises of jobs and then forces
them into prostitution.

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor completed his indictment on
the Cat Operation that had ties to Mersin and Izmir.

The indictment, taking into consideration the number of
victims, demanded up to 575 years' imprisonment for forcing
the women to stay, rape, prostitution, looting, and having
an unregistered gun.

For the remaining 16 suspects, he demanded imprisonment of
from 3 to 216 years. END TEXT.


21. Published by Sabah on Thursday, April 13:

TITLE: Raid conducted when "Times" reported

BEGIN TEXT: The Cat Operation was conducted in Istanbul
following Craig Smith's article in the New York Times
entitled, "Is Turkey Happy to Be a Market for Women?" When
the article appeared in the national press on June 28, 2005,
the police conducted the biggest prostitution operation of
recent years.

In the article, it was stated that the market for women,
which emerged in Turkey following the collapse of the USSR,
has turned into a slave trade.

Following a long surveillance, the police conducted a raid
on February 20, 2006, during which 16 people were captured.
Ejder Toprak, the alleged leader of the gang, was also
arrested and put into jail. It was alleged that gang
members and primarily Toprak's wife, Oksana, deceived women
from Russia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine with various
promises and by paying their travel expenses to Istanbul.
These women were met at the airport by "secretaries" who had
been dragged into prostitution themselves. They were taken
to the houses of the gang or to hotels. There, these women
were made to sign promissory notes. They were then forced
into prostitution. The gang members provided the locations
for prostitution. They sold those who opposed and created a
security risk to the others.

These women were sold for $100-200 for the hour or for the
night, and they were taken to the client by the gang's
drivers. There was a log for all the money that these women
had to earn and later those earnings were paid to Ejder
Toprak. END TEXT.


22. Published by Aksam on Thursday, April 13:

TITLE: The New York Times reports, Turkish police capture

BEGIN TEXT: In an article in the U.S. New York Times by
Craig Smith last year, it was claimed that Turkey has turned
into a woman market after the USSR dissolved. The article
entitled, "Is Turkey Happy to Become a Woman Market?"
claimed that women from the former Soviet Republics were
used as slaves in the sex trade.

This article in the Times was quoted by the Turkish media on
June 28, 2005, and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor
ordered the police to crack down on the gangs. The police
began work against prostitution networks. First they began
to tap the phones of the networks and follow their leaders.
The houses, clients and the women they used for prostitution
were determined one by one. Following nine months' work, a
raid called "Cat" netted the arrest of gang leader Ejder
Toprak. Twenty-five people who were forcing foreign women
into prostitution were detained. While the court put nine
under arrest, it set the remaining 16 free to be tried on
release.

Following the information obtained from Ejder Topak and
other gang members and as a result of phone tapping and
technical surveillance, last week a second operation was
carried out. Twenty-three women, including famous models
and singers, were detained. Up to four years' imprisonment
was demanded against four who were forcing the "victims"
into prostitution. Each suspect will be punished as many
times as the number of their victims and thus Dincer D.'s
sentence will be multiplied with 16, Suat Y.'s with 12 and
Bulent T. with seven.

RUSSIA ASKS FOR HELP

The indictment claimed that an official from the Russian
Federation Consulate in Istanbul went to the Foreigners'
Police on February 3, 2006, and requested their citizen
Irina Ryabchenko to be saved from the hands of a gang. Upon
information that Irina might be in Mersin, the Mersin Police
was called for help. Irina was saved from the gang with the
efforts of the police.

SECRETARIES GREET THOSE WHO ARE TRAPPED

SIPDIS

In the indictment, it was explained in detail how these
women were dragged into the trap. Some people, including
gang leader Ejder Topak and his wife Oksana, brought women
to Istanbul from Russia, Moldavia, Belarus and the Ukraine
with various promises. They paid the travel expenses.
Women who fall into the trap were met at the airport by
women, who were called "secretaries," and who earlier were
pulled into prostitution. After being taken from the
airport, these women were taken to the gang's houses or
hotels. Later these women were forced to sign a document
confirming that they were in debt. Women who were isolated
in a foreign country were forced into prostitution to pay
their debt. Those who resist were subject to beating and
torture. Those who oppose were sold to other gangs in
Izmir, Mersin and other provinces in return for $3000-6000
for the security of the gang. In order to enable these
women to stay longer in Turkey, the gang altered their
passport information.

UP TO 575 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT

The Istanbul Police prepared the indictment against 25
suspects. The prostitution gang will soon be on trial at
the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court Number 3. Leader Ejder Topak
faces imprisonment term from 259 to 575 years and Murat
Dogan from 80 to 207 years.

IRINA'S TRAGEDY

In the indictment, the story of Irina Ryabchenko, forced to
be a sex slave, was related as, "Irina (23) was sent to
Istanbul by an agency. She was met by a woman called Anya.
She was taken to an apartment in Atakoy. Deniz B., who was
at the house, said that they spent $4000 to bring her to
Istanbul and made her sign a document. He told her that in
order to pay back her debt she had to be involved in
prostitution. Irina abided by the demand. Despite the fact
that she paid her debt, she could not get away from the
gang. She ran away. Deniz B. captured her and sold her to
Ejder Topak. Toprak locked her up in a house in Aksaray.
Her telephone and passport were taken away from her. Topak
and three others first beat her and later raped her for four
days. Later she was sold for $6000 to Kenan, known as
"Apo," in Izmir. After a while Kenan sold her for $6000 to
a man called "Niyazi" in Mersin.

FEES FOR THE GIRLS

Women who are dragged into prostitution have been marketed
either for the hour or the night for $100 or $200.

If the client agrees to the price, these women are taken
from where they are kept and taken to the meeting place.

These women are not paid ahead of time. The money owed to
them is registered in a book. Later Ejder Topak pays the
women. END TEXT.


23. Reported by Hurriyet on Friday, April 14:

TITLE: Sermon on prostitution in Istanbul

BEGIN TEXT: Hurriyet quoted State Minister Mehmet Aydin,
who is in charge of the Directorate for Religious Affairs
(Diyanet),as saying that they would stop uniform sermons
valid for the entire province, and instead would come up
with specially-tailored sermons for each province for Friday
prayers.

Aydin explained that, for example, a Friday sermon in
Antalya could be on tourism, in Diyarbakir on terrorism and
honor killings, and in Istanbul on prostitution.

Aydin said that as a town receiving immigrants, Istanbul has
been suffering serious problems concerning prostitution and
theft. Aydin stressed that women from certain countries, in
particular, were forcefully kept and dragged into
prostitution and added, "It is a tragedy. There are
responsibilities that lay on the Diyanet. For example, as
it delivers sermons in Istanbul, it can refer to this
tragedy. These sermons can be on various topics." END
TEXT.

WILSON