Insulted by the truth
The Guardian (via) reports that yet another publisher has fallen foul of the infamous Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code. This time for trying to promote reconcilliation between Turks and Armenians.
Ragip Zarakolu is facing up to three years in prison for publishing a book - promoting reconciliation between Turks and Armenians - by George Jerjian, a writer living in London.
Jerjian’s book, The Truth Will Set Us Free, which was translated into Turkish in 2005, chronicles the life of his Armenian grandmother who survived the early 20th century massacres of Armenians thanks to an Ottoman soldier. The historical account has prompted as much controversy among the Armenian diaspora, not least in the US, as it has in Turkey.
Accoding to Labour MEP Richard Howitt, who will attend the hearing at Istanbul’s Asliye Ceze courthouse, Mr Jerjian “is a highly credible author with very moderate views. If even he falls foul of Turkish law it shows how far they still have to go on freedom of expression.”
Yesterday the Turkish justice minister, Mehmet Ali Sahin, reiterated the sentiment, telling Howitt that “freely expressed views that neither promote terrorism nor violence should be protected”.
But while Turkish diplomats admit the contentious law has probably done more damage to Ankara’s efforts to join the EU than any other single piece of legislation, observers say there has been little headway made over reforming the spirit and letter of the law.
In a climate of unabated nationalism, state prosecutors and police officials continue to level charges against artists, musicians and writers perceived to publicly denigrate Turkishness.
Monday 10 Dec 2007 | Paul | Turkey
