Zaman, Turkey
Sept 23 2006

Ultranationalist Lawyer Appeals Novelist Shafak’s Acquittal
By Cihan News Agency
Saturday, September 23, 2006
zaman.com

An ultranationalist lawyer named Kemal Kerincsiz has appealed the
acquittal of renowned Turkish novelist Elif Shafak.

Shafak had been accused of insulting Turkishness, due to her remarks
in her novel titled, "The Bastard of Istanbul".

Lawyer Kerincsiz, who was responsible for opening the case against
author Elif Shafak, submitted an appeal petition to the Beyoglu
Court, where the controversial trial was held on Thursday.

The lawyer claimed in his petition that the court jury was under
pressure from Turkish and European politicians.

Beyoglu 2nd Court of First Instance decided on Thursday to acquit
Shafak on lack of evidence that the author had insulted Turkishness.

Shafak who gave birth to her first child, a girl named Sehrazat
Zelda, on Saturday, was unable to attend the first trial.

Shafak’s book recounts the story of relations between an Armenian
family and two Turkish families.

An Armenian character in the book says that "Turkish butchers" killed
her family and that the deaths were "genocide."

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on
Thursday that he was happy that Shafak was acquitted in the
controversial case.

Erdogan also signaled an amendment on the much debated Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code, under which many well-known Turkish writers
and authors were tried or prosecuted, saying that a consensus is
required between the government and the opposition parties for such
an amendment.