ISTANBUL PROSECUTION OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE ELIF SAFAK
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman Online, Turkey
July 4 2006

Istanbul Beyoglu Prosecution Office has decided to open an
investigation against author Elif Safak for her book "Baba and Pic –
literally Father and the Bastard".

Ultra-rightwing Turkish Lawyers Association Chairman Kemal Kerincsiz,
infamous for filing charges against journalists and authors, filed
a complaint against author Elif Safak.

Kemal Kerincsiz, who has prosecuted novelist Orhan Pamuk and
ethnic-Armenian writer Hrant Dink, accused Elif Safak of ‘insulting
Turkish character’ – for her inclusion of remarks made by Armenian
characters in her latest book.

The prosecutor decided to investigate the book for certain statements
quoted from the Armenian characters.

"Baba and Pic" describes the relationship between an Armenian and
two Turkish families.

Elif Safak, who also writes for Zaman daily, said that the remarks
of Diaspora Armenians in her book were wrongly attributed to her.