The Irish Times
September 14, 2005

Turkish plan to jail author alarms EU

TURKEY: Turkey’s “provocative” plan to prosecute novelist Orhan Pamuk
shows that some members of its judiciary are resisting reforms vital
to Ankara’s drive to join the European Union, the EU’s enlargement
chief said yesterday.

Mr Pamuk faces up to three years in jail for backing allegations that
Armenians suffered genocide at Ottoman Turkish hands 90 years ago – a
highly sensitive issue in Turkey, due to start EU membership talks on
October 3rd. Turkish prosecutors are also investigating comments by
the best-selling author that some 30,000 Kurds were killed more
recently in Turkey in separatist clashes with security forces.

“I find a recent decision to prosecute writer Orhan Pamuk raises
serious concern,” EU enlargement commissioner Dr Olli Rehn told the
European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

“A decision . . . to bring the court case on December 16th . . .
cannot be just a coincidence. I think it is a provocation.” December
16th is the first anniversary of an EU decision to open entry talks
with Turkey.

Mr Pamuk’s comments during an newspaper interview drew an angry
reaction from Turkish nationalists and politicians.

The public prosecutor in Istanbul’s Sisli district found Mr Pamuk’s
remarks violated Turkey’s revised penal code, which deems denigration
of the “Turkish identity” a crime.

Dr Rehn said he was worried some Turkish prosecutors interpreted the
code in a way that breaches the European Convention of Human Rights,
undermining Turkey’s quest to join the EU. – (Reuters)