Turkey: Information on whether there was an investigation into the death in 1993 of Turkish journalist, Ugur Mumcu, and on the results of that investigation
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TUR27930.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Turkey: Information on whether there was an investigation into the death in 1993 of Turkish journalist, Ugur Mumcu, and on the results of that investigation, 1 September 1997, TUR27930.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acd920.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on whether there was an investigation into the death in 1993 of Turkish journalist, Ugur Mumcu, is very limited. Eleven people were arrested two days after the killing and the alleged attackers were brought to trial on 6 May 1994 (Reporters Sans Frontières 1994 Report, 340-41). All were members of the Islamic Movement (ibid.). One of the accused, Necmi Aslan, was subsequently released (ibid.). Additional information on the results of the trial could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
According to Amnesty International Report 1996 and Country Reports 1996, the case of the 1993 murder of Turkish journalist, Ugur Mumcu, remains unresolved.
Ugur Mumcu was a prominent journalist with the newspaper Cumhuriyet who was killed 24 January 1993 when a bomb exploded when he switched on the ignition of his car (Reuters 25 Jan. 1993; Turkish National News Agency 24 Jan.1993).Three or four Islamic groups reportedly claimed responsibilty for the killing (Reuters 25 Jan. 1993; Reporters Sans Frontières 1994 Report,340-41).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International. 1996. Amnesty International Country Report 1996. New York: Amnesty International USA.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Reporters Sans Frontières. 1995. Freedom of the Press Throughout the World. [London]. 1995.
Reuters. 25 January 1993. BC Cycle. Metim Demirsar. "Crowds in Istanbul Protest Killing of Journalist." (NEXIS).
Turkish National News Agency [Ankara, in English]. 24 January 1993. "Two Islamic Organizations Claim Resposibility for Killing of Journalist." (BBC Summary 27 Jan. 1993/NEXIS).
Additional Sources Consulted
DIRB Country File (Turkey) 1993-1997.
The Europa World Year Book [London]. 1993-1996.
Electronic sources: DIRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database).
Index on Censorship [London]. 1993-1994.