Democracy Conference by Greens and EDP to be hold on Saturday

Democracy Conference to be hold tomorrow, on the 21st of January, Saturday. Democracy Conference co-hosted by Green Party (Yesiller) and Equality and Democracy Party (EDP) will be on Saturday, January 21 in Istanbul, at Kadir Has University Cibali Congress Hall.

The conference is being held as worries increase about the AKP government steering Turkey towards an authoritarian regime, with persecution of democratic movements, opposition, Kurdish politicians, students, press and the curtailing of the freedom of expression.

Hélène Flautre, MEP and Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission, will  also speak at the conference which will have academics, writers, journalists, politicians and activists as speakers.

The four session conference will have panels titled: Pacing towards authoritarianism, democratic demands and state pressure, justice and the quest for reform.

Speakers whowill participate in the conference are: Ahmet Insel, Aydin Engin, Bekir Agirdir, Emel Kurma, Erol Katircioglu, Ferdan Ergut, Funda Ekin, Gencay Gursoy, Gultan Kisanak, Helene Flautre, Mehmet Tarhan, Meral Danis, Mesut Yegen, Pinar Ogunc, Rober Koptas, Sibel Inceoglu, Umit Sahin, Yakup Okumusoglu ve Yuksel Selek.

The conference is free to attend and it will be held on Saturday, 21 January between 10:00 and 18:00 at Kadir Has University’s Congress hall to be found at Kadir Has Street, Cibali, Unkapani.

 

DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE

Pacing towards Authoritarianism, Democratic Demands and State Pressure, Justice and the Quest for Reform

Saturday, 21 January 2012 Kadir Has University Cibali Congress Hall, Istanbul

Hosts: Green Party (Yesiller) – Equality and Democracy Party (EDP)

10:00-10:30 – Welcome
Yuksel Selek  – Green Party Co-spokesperson
Ferdan Ergut – EDP Chairman

10:30-12:00 Session 1 – Pacing towards Authoritarianism-1
Moderator: Emel Kurma (Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Green Party)
Ahmet Insel, Prof. Dr. (Galatasaray University)
Aydin Engin, Journalist
Pinar Ogunc, Journalist (Radikal Gazetesi)

12:30-13:30 Session 2– Pacing towards Authoritarianism-2
Moderator: Gencay Gursoy, Prof. Dr.
Hélène Flautre (MEP and Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission)
Gultan Kisanak (BDP Co-president)

13:30-14:30 Lunch Break

14:30-16:00 Session 3 – Democratic Demands and State Pressure
Moderator: Umit Sahin (Green Party Co-spokesperson)
Funda Ekin, Avukat (Mor Cati Women’s Shelter Foundation and Socialist Feminist Collective)
Mehmet Tarhan (Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Society)
Bulent Bilmez, Ass. Prof. Dr. (Istanbul Bilgi University)
Yakup Okumusoglu, Lawyer

16:30-18:00 Session 4 – Justice and Quest for Reform
Moderator: Erol Katircioglu, Prof. Dr. (Bilgi University, EDP Vice Chair)
Sibel Inceoglu, Prof. Dr. (Bilgi University)
Rober Koptas, Journalist (Agos Newspaper)
Meral Danis, Lawyer (BDP Party Council Member)
Bekir Agirdir, Konda Research Center Director

Date: Saturday 21 January 2012
Time: 10:00-18:00
Place: Kadir Has University Cibali Congress Hall
Address: Kadir Has University Campus, Kadir Has Street, Cibali, Unkapani  – Istanbul