FRENCH “LIBERATION” PUBLISHES LETTER OF PROTEST FROM TURKISH INTELLECTUALS

Hurriyet, Turkey
May 11 2006

A group of 9 well-known Turkish intellectuals co-wrote a letter of
protest against the bill to be considered in the French Parliament
next week which would, if passed, mandate prison sentences for people
publicly denying Armenian genocide claims.

The letter was published in yesterday’s edition of the French
newspaper “Liberation,” and warns French people of the repurcussions
from possible passage of the drafted bill, which is to be debated in
parliament on May 18.

A portion of the letter, which was written by Murat Belge, Halil
Berktay, Elif Safak, Hrant Dink, Muge Gocek, Ahmet Insel, Etyen
Mahcupyan, Baskin Oran, and Ragip Zarakolu, says: “What is for
certain is that this law would make the process for those searching
for solutions to these claims even more difficult. And a resulting
paradox is that if France itself passes such a law, blocking free
debate on the Armenian genocide question, the result will create
similar or even stronger reactions in Turkey.”