From European Voice

One of Turkey’s foremost modern writers Orhan Pamuk has been forced to flee the country after being engulfed in a storm of controversy over comments he made about Ottoman treatment of Armenians.

Apparently, Parmuk gave an interview to a Swiss journalist last month during which he remarked that “a million Armenians were killed in Turkey”. Following this, he found himself facing heavy criticism in the nationalist press (which is reasonable enough) and death threats (which is completely unacceptable).

According to Green MEP Cem Özdemir, Parmuk - author of best selling novels Snow and The Black Book, which deal with the interrelation of Turkey’s Islamic, secular and liberal traditions - has left the country out of fear for his life.

Members of the right-wing ultra-nationalist National Action Party, the MHP, and its youth wing, known as the ‘Grey Wolves’ have openly called for Pamuk to be attacked. One regional official issued an order for his books to be burned, an action which has since prompted an government enquiry.

A government inquiry is a very small step. The regional official in question has shown himself to be completely incompetent in a country with a slowly stengthening democracy that aspires to join the EU.

The MHP and ‘Grey Wolves’ members that have tried to incite violence against Pamuk should be prosecuted.

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