Günter Wallraff and Turkish Writers Support Indicted Author

Today (8 December), the first hearing of the trial against writer Erdoğan Akhanlı is scheduled. He is facing a life sentence because of his alleged involvement in an armed robbery on behalf of an illegal organization 21 years ago. German writer Günter Wallraff, known for his investigative book "Hitting rock bottom", is expected to observe the trail.

Akhanlı furthermore receives support from delegations of Amnesty International, the German PEN Centre, the German Authors Federation (VS), the Berlin Arts Academy, the Democratic Lawyers Union (VDJ), the Austrian Authors Federation, the Turkey-Germany Culture Forum, the Turkey-Germany Human Rights Association (TÜDAY), the German Committee for Fundamental Rights, the Federal Parliamentary Group of Die Linke ('the left') Party, the German Greens and the Dutch Aktion Sühnezeichen ('Action Reconciliation') Foundation. Wallraff and members of these organizations will meet in front of the Beşiktaş (Istanbul) courthouse at 11.00 am local time this morning.

A joint announcement is expected for today at the Turkish Journalists Society (TGC).

Akanlı stands accused of the "attempt to overthrow the constitutional order by armed force". The first hearing of the trial will start at 01.30 pm before the 11^th High Criminal Court. The indictment was prepared on 25 August and seeks prison terms according to Article 146/1 of the former Turkish Criminal Code (TCK). Akhanlı was arrested when he entered Turkey on 10 August and taken to the Tekirdağ (Thrace) No.2 F Type Prison.

Detained for five months, facing life sentence

Akhanlı is considered as one of the culprits involved in a robbery on an exchange bureau in Eminönü (Istanbul) on 23 October 1989. The owner of the exchange office, İbrahim Yaşar Tutum, was killed in the robbery. His sons, Ünay and Mustafa Tutum,  are included in the indictment as the aggrieved party.

The complainants had previously stated that Akhanlı was not responsible for the incident. Yet, this was not considered and the indictment on the defendant was prepared nevertheless.

In an e-mail interview held by Radikal newspaper reporter Cem Erciyes, Wallraff was asked whether he ever considered Akhanlı guilty. The writer replied, "I did not think that even for one single moment, even though I did not know him personally at the time of the robbery in 1989. But Akhanlı frequently talked about past times in Turkey. I know how the militants who wanted to change the relations by armed force criticized the strategies of the left. He is a pacifist like me. Yes, he is determined and radical but he would not kill his enemy. That is why right from the beginning I was absolutely sure that he is accused of a crime he did not commit".

Writers support Akhanlı

Writers and rights defenders came together on Monday (6 December) at the Turkish Journalists Association and declared their support for Akhanlı.

The Head of the Turkish Centre of PEN, the Worldwide Association of Writers, Tarık Günersel, stated that the organization always supported the Turkish writer. Author Selami Gürel said that it was impossible to believe the allegations put forward against Akhanlı. "There is no intellectual in this country that has not been in prison and knows what is there. I know Akhanlı for years. I want justice to be dispensed as soon as possible", Gürel claimed. Lawyer Eren Keskin also emphasized his belief that Akhanlı is being detained for a crime he did not commit. (EÖ/VK)