IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT – ARMENIA
5 August 2005
Anthropology student jailed, facing up to 8 years in prison for possession
of antique books
SOURCE: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, London
(WiPC/IFEX) – Members of the world association of writers, International
PEN, have been alerted to the plight of Yektan Turkyilmaz, a Turkish PhD
student of cultural anthropology who has been in prison in Armenia since mid
June 2005. Turkyilmaz was arrested for not declaring that he was in
possession of antique books as he was leaving the country. PEN has learned
that his trial is set to take place on 9 August.
International PEN is concerned that Turkyilmaz has been imprisoned pending
trial for over six weeks and that he is threatened with a sentence of up to
eight years in prison. It is concerned that he is being treated particularly
harshly because of the nature of his studies. PEN is urging that he be freed
pending trial, that his claims that he was unaware of the export regulations
on the books be taken into consideration and that assurances be given that
the action against him has not been taken as a means of preventing him from
continuing his research.
Turkyilmaz, aged 33, was arrested at Yerevan Airport on 17 June as he
attempted to leave Armenia. He was on his fourth research trip to the
country and had planned to travel on to Paris and Istanbul before returning
to Duke University in the USA, where he has a John Hope Franklin Institute
fellowship.
During his visit, Turkyilmaz had purchased around 100 books ranging from the
17th to 20th centuries, which he mostly bought from Armenian second-hand
book shops. The student has been collecting such books for his own research
as well as to build up a library of Armenian books that would otherwise be
lost. He maintains he was unaware of requirements to declare any books over
50 years old at customs. A large number of CDs containing research material
was also seized and has not been returned.
On 21 July, prosecuting authorities announced that Turkyilmaz was to be
tried under Article 215 of the Armenian Criminal Code relating to the export
of “contraband” goods, including drugs, arms, materials for the manufacture
of weapons of mass destruction and “cultural values for the transportation
of which special rules are established”. He faces up to 8 years in prison.
There is deep concern that Turkyilmaz has limited access to his lawyer and
friends, and that he is denied access to the telephone, or to write and
receive letters.
For full details go to:
To see a letter of protest to Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed by
over 240 writers and academics world wide, click:
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to authorities:
– expressing deep concern about the arrest of Yektan Turkyilmaz for
inadvertently attempting to take books out of Armenia without permission;
– pointing out that his continued detention and proposed trial under charges
carrying a maximum of eight years in prison is unreasonably harsh;
– referring to suggestions that these measures have been taken as a means of
deterring Turkyilmaz from further research into the issue of
Armenian-Turkish relations
– calling for Turkyilmaz to be freed pending trial and for all restrictions
on his visits and communications to be lifted.
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Robert Kocharian,
President
Office of the President
Marshal Bagharmaina St 26
375077 Yerevan
Armenia
Fax: +374 10 521 581
Please copy appeals to the source if possible. Appeals should also be copied
to the Armenian embassies in your own countries. For addresses click:
For further information, contact the WiPC, International PEN, 9/10
Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AT, U.K., tel: +44 207
253 3226, fax: +44 207 253 5711, e-mail: intpen@gn.apc.org, Internet:
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of WiPC.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit WiPC.
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