Courts Pressure Translators Too

Publisher Zarakolus trial for insulting the Republic by publishing books of two Armenian writers took a twist when the judge postponed the case to include the translators. In two other incidents translators were tried in freedom of expression cases.

Erol Önderoğlu

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu's case where he's tried with 13.5 years imprisonment for "insulting the republic, its institutions and Ataturk" by publishing two books of Armenian writers, continued on December 14.

The judge postponed the case, ordering the translator of the books to be brought to court. This is seen as another attempt to try translators in freedom of expression cases.

Shafak and Tirman's translators

Zarakolu stands trial because of publishing Prof. Dora Sakaryan's "The Memorials of an Armenian Doctor" and George Jerjian's "Reality Will Set Us Free".

Prosecution demands 7.5 years in prison for "insulting and ridiculing the Republic and the State" of the first case and 6 years for "insulting Turkishness and the armed forces" for the latter.

Translators Lutfi Taylan Tosun and Aysel Yildirim are being prosecuted alongside Aram Publishing House owner Fatih Tas for the Turkish language copy of John Tirman's book "Spoils of War: The Human Cost of America's Arms Trade".

Writer Elif Shafak's translator Aslı Bicen was also tried when her book "Father and Bastard" put onto court with the claim of "insulting Turkishness".

Zarakolu's cases will continue in March 15.(EO/EU)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.