KurdishMedia, UK
Jan 19 2004
Zarakolu gets ‘freedom of expression’ award
19/01/2005 Bianet.org – By Kemal Ozmen
Zarakolu received the “Freedom of Expression” Award by the Norwegian
Writers’ Association He asked that the arrest warrant issued against
Ozguden be lifted, that imprisoned journalists are released, and that
the Gunluk Evrensel and Birgun are supported.
BIA (Istanbul) – This year, the “Freedom of Expression” Award was
granted to writer and publisher Ragip Zarakolu. The Norwegian
Writers’ Association and Norwegian Culture Ministry, each year,
grants the award to a writer for outstanding work for freedom of
expression. The award was first granted in 1994.
The award was granted to journalist-writer Ismail Besikci in
Indonesia last year. “Terrorism laws haven’t been on the agenda in
Scandinavia,” said Eugene Schoulgin, a board member of the
International PEN. “We were lazy, but lucky too. We were shocked to
see the efforts being spent here.”
After receiving his award, Zarakolu expressed that there still are
obstacles in front of publishing in Turkey. “We need a change of
mentality in the legal system,” said Zarakolu. “Universal basic
rights and international agreements should form the basis of this
change.”
“I am dedicating this award to Dogan and Inci Ozguden,” said
Zarakolu. “They should have their citizenship back.” He added that
the arrest warrant issued against Dogan Ozguden should be cancelled,
and that the imprisoned journalists Memik Horuz, Hatice Duman,
Gulizar Kesici, Ersin Sedefoglu, Erol Zavar and Kemal Evcimen are
released. Zarakolu also talked about the problems of the “Gunluk
Evrensel” (Daily Evrensel) and “Birgun” (One Day) newspapers.
Schoulgin: The efforts shocked us
“Memory and criticism are a whole,” said Schoulgin as he handed the
award to Zarakolu. “A community should develop both. It is important
for the people in Scandinavia to come to Turkey and observe the
improvements of the last 10 years.”
During their speeches, Cetin Tuzuner, the head of the Publishers’
Union and Ustun Akman, the head of PEN Turkey, underlined the
importance of freedom of thought and expression for a community.
Protecting the historical memory
Geir Pollen, head of the Norwegian Writers’ Union, said “Zarakolu is
not only a person who devoted himself to ancient and modern
literature, but also to the protection of minority cultures and
historical memory, which is very easy to destroy.”
Zarakolu, in his series called, “Marenostrum,” in 1999, had
extensively talked about the Greek literature and was awarded the
Turkish-Greek Peace and Friendship Award by the Abdi Ipekci Committee
in Greece. He received the “Novib Freedom of Thought Award” by the
Netherlands PEN Writers’ Club in 2003.
Chronic “criminal of thought”
The Norwegian Writers’ Association referred to Zarakolu as the
chronic “criminal of thought,” and provided some information on his
life:
Ragip Zarakolu was born in Buyukada on 1948. He graduated from the
Kabatas High School and then the Economy School at Istanbul
University. His Doctorate degree was interrupted twice. First,
because of the military coup in 1971, and second, when his teacher
Tutengil was murdered in 1979.
He began writing for the Ant and Yeni Ufuklar magazines in 1968.
Following the 1971 military coup, he became one of the defendants in
the intellectuals’ case opened because of the first Turkey campaign
on the freedom of thought by Amnesty International.
In 1972, he was sentenced to two years in prison for his article
titled, “Ho Chi Hinh and the Vietnam War.” He benefited from an
amnesty law and got released in 1974. He set up the “Belge Yayinlari”
publishing house in 1977 with his wife Ayse Nur Zarakolu.
He was one of the founders and managers of the Demokrat newspaper
established in 1979 by 36 intellectuals. He remained under arrest for
a while in 1982 because of this newspaper.
He was banned from travelling outside the country between 1971 and
1991. He began publishing the “What’s Happening in the World?”
(L’etat du Monde) periodicals after the 1980 military coup.
In 1982, he founded “Alan Yayinlari” publishing house. He served as
editor in theoretical magazines such as “Problems of the World –
Problems of Turkey,” and “Second Thesis.” He wrote for a number of
social sciences encyclopaedias. He was one of the founders of the
Human Rights Association in 1986. He is also one of the founders of
the History Foundation.
Since 1991, he’s been writing for the Kurdish media. He spent efforts
for freedom of expression, for the acceptance of the Armenian
tragedy, and respect for minority rights. He has taken action against
anti-Semitism. He participated in tens of local and international
conferences.
In his series called, “Marenostrum,” in 1999, he extensively talked
about the Greek literature and received the Turkish-Greek Peace and
Friendship Award by the Abdi Ipekci Committee in Greece.
He received the “Novib Freedom of Thought Award” by the Netherlands
PEN Writers’ Club in 2003.
He always supported his wife Ayse Nur Zarakolu, who spent outstanding
effort for the freedom of thought and citizens’ rights during the
years 1980-2002, which were the darkest years in terms of human
rights. She was jailed four times and stood tens of trials because of
her publications and work on human rights.
Ayse Nur Zarakolu was recalled to court by prosecutors even after her
death, for publishing a book called, “Freedom Song.”
Zarakolu will stand trial on March 2, 2005 in an Istanbul court for
his article titled, “None of Your Business,” published in the Ozgur
Gundem (Free Agenda) newspaper.
He also faces trials for publishing the books, “Reality will Set us
Free,” by George Jerjian, and “Lost Villages,” by Zulkuf Kisanak.
(KO/BB/EA/YE)
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