A research on the problems of freedom of expressing thoughts and the freedom of press in Turkey (Problems of freedom of expressing thoughts and the freedom of press between 1980-1995 -crimes, penalties, gvilties-)

In this study which we carried out on expression of thought and freedom of press, first of all the concept of thought was examined. The definitions of thought and freedom of expression, which were not fully defined previously and which were not taken seriously by the authorities, were tried to bring together. The conceptual frame of freedom of thought was drawn. It was emphasized on historical liberal perspective in which the freedom of expressing thought found its meaning with the development of democracy. It was tried to bring ' together the universal reflections of the issue. After the examination of freedom of thought and expression which prepared the way for freedom of press, consideration was given to the freedom of press. Press theories 'were examined. The social responsibilities of press were brought on the agenda. Press ethic was examined. In democratic societies the functions of press were researched. In the second part of our study, the issues of expressing of thought and freedom of press in Turkey were investigated thoroughly. The precipices between the universal implementations of the issue and its reflections in Turkey were determined. The obstacles made legally and illegally in front of the expression of thought and freedom of press, were brought on the agenda. It was deemed that, thinking is freely made in Turkey, but the expression of the thing thought, is the ma i n problem as it is subjected to restrictions in a way to damage the essence of the subject. in this study carried out by taking years 1980 and 1995 as basis, the problems of expression of f thought and freedom of press in Turkey, and because of these consideration was given on the thought and press crimes. First of ali it was emphasized on the constitutional arrangements of the issue. it was observed that there was not an optimistic approach as regards to expression of thought and freedom of press in the constitutional tradition of. Turkey. This tradition found its place in the implementations and made the fields of expression of thought and freedom of press narrower. These implementations did not change with the ruling of various managements. This ir.pl ie s that Turkey has a s vs t em problem as reçards to expression of thought and freedom of press. After 1980, in Turkey that was ruled by military and civilian manaçements, press continued increasingly. Sxcept the revccation of Articles 141, 142 and 163 of the Turkish Criminal Code, on which we can speak optimistically, there has not been any positive study. On the ccntrary, heavier barriers have been iınposed in frcnt of thought and freedom of press. Along with the legal barriers of expression of thought and freedom of press in Turkey, the monopolies in press, constitute cbstacles.