Sanctions and Trial for Comments on Atatürk

On 18 November 2006, Professor Dr. Atilla Yayla participated in a panel discussion along with Ali Bulac, a journalist with the "Zaman" daily newspaper, and Zekeriye Akcam, an MP with the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP). The event was organised by the AKP's Izmir City Youth Group. The discussion topic
was "social reflections on the EU process".

Two phases in Turkish Republican history

Yayla spoke of the history of civilisation and its founding principles, values and institutions.
He argued that the history of Turkey after 1923 could be divided into two phases using those concepts,
the first phase being 1923-45 and the second beginning after 1950. He argued that the first phase
could not be considered as a success in terms of those values and principles, and thus "Kemalism"
could not be considered a civilising process, but rather should be seen as a regression.

 
Following the discussion a piece was published in the newspaper "Yeni Asir" declaring Yayla to be
a "traitor", and focusing on two sentences he used.The first was his referral to Atatürk as
"this man" (a transcription of the voice recordings of the meeting later proved that he did not use
that phrase); the other was that he said that "'Kemalism' was reactionary". (Mustafa Kemal, known
as "Atatürk" or "Father Turk", founded the modern Turkish Republic.)

Suspended, reinstated, but condemned

In the wake of press reports, the rector of Gazi University, Dr. Kadri Yamac, suspended Yayla
from his post at the university. The Head of the Higher Education Board (YÖK) argued that
Yayla's words could not be accepted as an expression of scientific opinion.

Following an investigation into Yayla's comments, he was reinstated in his post but
condemned for his words.

Trial under Statute on Crimes against Atatürk

Meanwhile, a criminal case has been opened against Yayla on the charge of "insulting Atatürk
and his memory". The penalty sought is four-and-a-half years imprisonment.

The indictment prepared by Izmir Public Prosecutor Ahmet Güven claims that Yayla insulted
Atatürk by referring to him as "this man".

Yayla's case, under Articles 1 and 2 of the Statue on Crimes against Atatürk, will continue
on 16 October (today).

Yayla's words

Yayla's comments at the panel discussion were as follows: "If the EU process moves forward
despite all these problems, we will have to discuss these matters freely in coming years.
They will ask us, 'Why is it that there are Atatürk's statues everywhere?'. 'Why is the same
picture hung on every office wall?' They will ask these things.”

 “They will say:'Kemalism is the problem of Turkey' and such things . . . Our compatriots
will react negatively to this; but sooner or later we will have to discuss these issues . . .
We will either become politically what the Netherlands are over time, or we will say
'I am not a member of this club; I am a Middle Eastern country.' We might say that we are
more like Jordan or Syria.”

 “My desire is that such things be discussed without rancor. A moderate discussion. Solving the
problems without humiliating or aggravating anyone.I am a university lecturer I have to spend
time on such things. I have to convey these to people. I would like to hear the counter ideas. . . "

(IFEX/DSKG/AG)