Publisher Vural Still on Trial
Vural is on trial for "insulting and deriding the Republic in print". The case continued on 18 July, but the Beyoglu Penal Court (Istanbul) has decided to wait for a file on Ahmet Zeki Okcuoglu who has previously been tried in relation to the book.
Three years imprisonment demanded
Beyoglu prosecutor Nihat Erdem cited Article 301/2 in his indictment of 5 October 2005 and demanded three years imprisonment for Vural. The case will continue on 28 November.
Controversial content
The following sentences have been deemed problematic:
"The Kurds started one rebellion after the other. They rose against the regional states that were seizing their rights in favour of imperialists. All rebellions were suppressed with violence. In Turkey, Mustafa Kemal [Atatürk] oppressed the Kurds very harshly."
"And this although he was only able to form the Republic, drive the Greeks from Turkish soil and convince the Entente powers to recognise the Turkish state with the help of the Kurds. At the beginning, Mustafa Kemal made generous promises to the Kurds, but as soon as his position was firm, he forgot his promises."
In another part of the book, the forced Armenian emigration is written about.
There are also memoirs of Mesut Barzani's father, Molla Mustafa Barzani (1903-1979).
Bahcekapili: Agrees with criticism
In yesterday's Radikal (26 July), newly-elected lawyer Aysenur Bahcekapili (Justice and Development Party, AKP) was asked about Vural's case by reporter İsmail Saymaz. She said:
"I agree with criticism on this issue. I respect the amendments, but these laws were all made in the spirit of the 12 September [military coup] constitution. I am for a liberal law and pluralism. We will work towards changing the laws which are incongruous with a constitution prepared according to our beliefs. Of course, Article 301 is one of these." (EÖ/AG)