Freedom of Expression at stake in Turkey
Participants included: PEN Norway President Kjell Olaf Jensen, Writers in Prison Committee Program Director Sara Whyatt, Professor Alfred de Zayas, Publishers Ragip Zarakolu and Müge Sokmen, journalists Ragip Duran, Hrant Dink and Umit Oztürk, lawyer Fikret Ilkiz, composer Sanar Yurdatapan and Metin Celal, Secretary general of the Turkish Publishers Association (TPA).
Below is the IPA's press release:
* The round tables provided the opportunity to illustrate an overall picture of civil and political rights in Turkey.
* A particular attention was paid to Freedom of Expression, the legislative changes in Turkey in the past two years and the problems in implementing them.
* Turkey has increased its pursuit in becoming a member of the European Union since early 1980s and the EU stressed through their assessment reports in recent years that Turkey must take action to improve its human rights record as well as introducing legislative reforms in economic, social and political progress.
* The speakers stated that the legislative changes gave hope and optimism for radical changes in Turkey, but such positive steps are jeopardized by the implementation problems due to remaining punitive laws and the bureaucratic judiciary.
Sara Whyatt said the PEN International noted that at least 33 books were banned and 42 writers and publishers were put on trial in Turkey throughout 2003.
Lars Grahn, Chairman of IPA's Freedom to Publish Committee: "As 2004 is key in terms of the future relationship between the EU and Turkey, we deem it important to shed light on Freedom of Expression issues in this country".
Journalist and academic Ragip Duran stated that there were still taboos surrounding criticism in Turkish political life such as the military and the Kurdish question.
Metin Celal, Secretary General of the Turkish Publishers Association, gave examples of contradiction between the legislative reforms and the practice in real life.
He stated that although the film Pianist, which secured an Oscar Award for actor Adrian Brody, was freely shown in Turkish cinemas, the Turkish translation of the book version of the movie was banned on the grounds of obscenity.
In a similar controversy, Turkish translation of Marquis de Sade's book Philosophy in the Bedroom was banned over 200 years after its first appearance.
The speakers and organizers called upon Turkish authorities to repeal all the incriminating legislation that impose heavy fines and prison sentences against writers and publishers solely for criticizing the Turkish State.
A 10-mn long video showing a panorama of freedom of expression in Turkey and striving to advance solutions was also screened by Sanar Yurdatapan.
More About IPA And International Pen
IPA, established in Paris in 1896, represents the publishing industry worldwide through 78 national, regional and specialized publishers associations in 66 countries.
International PEN was founded in 1921 in London. It is represented worldwide through 138 centres in over 100 countries.
Both organizations are accredited Non-Governmental Organizations enjoying consultative status to the United Nations and seek to promote and defend the fundamental freedoms to publish, to read and to write, defending the rights of authors and publishers to create and distribute intellectual works in complete freedom. . (YE)