RAGIP ZARAKOLU IS "NOT CULPRIT"
Jean Eckian

Relayed Erol ONDEROGLU (BIA News Center), and belge international
publishing house
June 22, 2006

Endless Trials of Publisher Zarakolu

Belge Publications owner and journalist Ragıp Zarakolu now faces upto
13.5 years imprisonment if found guilty for printing and distributing
the Turkish translations of two books related to Armenians in Turkey.

Zarakolu appeared in court once again this week, this time on trial
for the Turkish language publication of Prof. Dr. Dora Sakayan’s book
"Garabed Hacheryan’s Izmir Journal: An Armenian Doctor’s Experiences
" and George Jerjian’s " The Truth Will Set Us Free: Armenians and
Turks Reconciled".

The prosecution demands 7.5 years imprisonment for the Turkish
translation book "The Truth Will Set Us Free" for which the court
has assigned Korkmaz Alemdar and Cafer Yenidogan of the Galatasaray
University and Prof. Dr. Emin Artuk of Marmara University as expert
witnesses. They are to read and analyse the book for an expert report.

"Garabed Hacheryan’s Izmir Journal: An Armenian Doctor’s Experiences"
promises Zarakolu up to 6 years imprisonment if he found guilty of the
charges but the court decided this week that statements taken were
fulfilling and an additional expert witness report was not required
for this publication.

Zarakolu: Court should interview author Sakaryan

Appearing before Istanbul’s number 2 Court of First Instance on
Wednesday and defended by attorney Osman Ergin, Zarakolu submitted
a petition to the bench where he explained that author Sakaryan was
a lecturer at the Mc Gill University in Canada and that his book put
on trial in Turkey had been translated into nine different languages.

Zarakolu said Sakaryan had been honours by the German Presidency for
his eminent services in recognition to 50 years of his contributions
to the German language.

He said that Sakaryan was author of the most comprehensive work on
the "Western Armenian" spoken in Turkey and requested the court to
interview the author for his views.

Judge Sevim Efendiler adjourned the case until June 21.

Charges based on controversial articles

Zarakolu faces 6 years imprisonment for the Turkish translation
publication of Sakaryan’s book on grounds that he violated the law
by publishing context that "degraded Turkisism" and "insulted and
ridiculed the Army".

He faces 7.5 years imprisonment for Jerjian’s book on charges of
"insulting and ridiculing the State and Republic" as well as "Insulting
the memory of Ataturk".

The two consecutive hearings on Wednesday were held in the presence
of International PEN representative Eugene Schoulgin, International
Human Rights Federation (FIË~YDH) deputy chairman Akın Birdal,
Pencere publications executive Muzaffer Erdogdu, Aram publications
editor Fatih Tas and author Oner Eyuboglu who attended the court in
support of Zarakolu.

Note: April 25, 2005, Ragip Zarakolu received hands of the mayor of
Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, the Medal of the town of Paris.

–Boundary_(ID_Wgoa5cBbvn2wHFWQ3fFS/w)–