PEN Urges Legislation Change

Worldwide association of writers, International PEN issued a statement welcoming the acquittal on 19 December 2006 of author Ipek Calislar, who was accused of insulting the memory of Atatürk, in her biography of his first wife.

On the other hand, the organization said that it remains concerned that other writers and journalists remain on trial in Turkey on charges of insult despite suggestions that there will be legislative changes towards improving the protection of the right to freedom of expression.

Ipek Calislar was tried for her best selling biography of Atatürk's first wife, Latife Hanim, under Article 5816 of the Penal Code for "insult to the memory of Ataturk" in a passage that described the founder of the Turkish Republic escaping a life threatening situation in the guise of a woman.

Another person accused of insult to be acquitted in recent weeks was publisher Fatih Tas, who was cleared at a 29 November trial for having "insulted Turkishness" by publishing a Turkish translation of American academic John Tirman's book "The Spoils of War".

Others remain on trial

However, publisher Ragip Zarakolu's trial on for two books that refer to the massacre of Armenians in Turkey at the turn of the last century, still continues since 2004.

Another who is facing the prospect of many more months on trial is Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian language newspaper "Agos". He has two trials against him: one launched in July 2006 on charges of "insulting Turkishness" under Article 301 for writing an article critical of the very law under which he is being tried, which will continue on 22 March.

International PEN said it's currently monitoring over 80 cases of writers and journalists on trial in Turkey, 20 of whom are charged with insult.

It called for sending appeals to Turkish authorities welcoming the recent acquittals of Calislar and Tas; expressing concern that trials against others continue; urging that promises to repeal or amend laws that allow for the imprisonment of writers, notably Article 301, be acted on without further delay; calling for an end to all prosecutions of writers and journalists solely for the peaceful practice of their professions. (EU)