ORHAN PAMUK IN THE DOCK
The Silsi court of Istanbul launched yesterday the trial over the most famous Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk was postponed until 7 February. The author of "Snow", "Istanbul" and a number of other books is charged with "insulting Turkishness". In February Pamuk told an Austrian newspaper: "A million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in these lands and no one but me dare talk about this."
After that interview he had to leave Turkey. He returned several days ago promising to repeat his words about the killings of Armenians. "Its a shame for me to live in a country where the Armenian massacre is a taboo," Pamuk said earlier. Now Pamuk is ready to stand his ground at Silsi court.
Orhan Pamuk entered the courtroom yesterday accompanied by journalists, his supporters and opponents. The latter whistled and called him traitor.
"What happened to the Ottoman Armenians in 1915 was a major thing that was hidden from the Turkish nation; it was a taboo. But we have to be able to talk about the past," Pamuk told BBC.
The trail over Turkish novelist is in the spotlight of Europe too. A number of delegates from the European Parliament as well as EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn arrived in Istanbul to fallow the proceeding. Rehn said that it is not Pamuk on trial but Turkey. Though was forced by the EU to adopt a new Penal Code, Article 301, under which Pamuk is tried, keeps punishing those who insult the Turkish identity, the Turkish State and a number of state institutions.
BBC cites the words of Ragep Zaraqolu among more than 60 writers and publishers on trial in for what EU officials call their non-violent expression of opinion: "We must face these realities to become a real democratic country. We are giving a struggle for this, to give light to the dark pages of our history. It is necessary for Turkish citizens but not the Armenians or someone else."
Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, was tried for the same offense and received a suspended sentence of 6 months lately, says: "There are people in today who want democracy and people who do not."
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists expressed its concern over the tendency of trampling freedom of speech in Turkey. The Committee reminds that on 2 December 5 Turkish journalists - Murad Belge, Haluk Sahin, Erol Katerjoglu, Ismet Berkan (all from Radikal newspaper) and Hasan Jemal (Milliyet) - were charged with violating Article 301. Their trial is slated on 7 February.
Article 301 foresees imprisonment from 6 months up to 10 years. BBC writes that the trial made Orhan Pamuk a political symbol. "I feel this political responsibility, a solidarity with all these people who are being harassed. I am with them," Pamuk said, "I will get out of this with dignity."
- By Tatoul Hakobian
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