Translator Face Charges as Publisher Clears

Publisher and writer Ragıp Zarakolus trials with regard to two books undertaking the Armenian issue continue. Hes acquitted on one case but the translator of the book will face charges. The other case had been postponed to June 26.

Erol Önderoğlu

Istanbul 2nd Court of First Instance acquitted Belge Publishing House owner writer Ragıp Zarakolu on allegations related to George Jerjian's "Reality Shall Set Us Free".

Instead, the court stated that the book's translator Atilla Turgun has the responsibility regarding the alleged crime of "degrading and insulting the atate and the Republic" as well as "insulting Atatürk's legacy".

On another account, Zarakolu faces 6 years in prison for publishing McGill University staff Prof. Dora Sakarian's "An Armenian Doctor's Memoirs-İzmir Diary of Garabet Hacerian".

This trial is postponed to June 26 in order to take the testimony of its translator H. Zafer Korkmaz. The allegations rest on "insulting Turkishness" and "degrading and insulting the military" on this case.

Both books undertake the Armenian issue with relation to Turkey's official approach towards it.

Finally, Prof. Atilla Yayla's case where he's tried with "insulting Ataturk", the founding father of the modern Turkish Republic, with regard to his statements in a conference last November continues.

The trial has been postponed to July 2. Yayla faces 4,5 years in prison if convicted.(EÜ)

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.