AMNESTY CALLS ON GOVT TO ABOLISH ARTICLE 301

The New Anatolian
Sept 28 2006

Stressing its "dismay" at journalist Hrant Dink facing yet more charges
under Article 301, Amnesty International pressed yesterday for the
controversial law to be not just changed, but done away with entirely.

"Amnesty International is dismayed at today’s news that yet another
case has been opened against journalist Hrant Dink on charges of
‘denigrating Turkishness’ under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code"
(TCK), said an Amnesty International USA statement. "The organization
considers that this prosecution is part of an emerging pattern of
harassment against the journalist exercising his right to freedom of
expression — a right which Turkey, as a state party to the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has a
legal obligation to uphold."

A new case was filed against Dink, a journalist and editor in chief
of Turkish-Armenian Agos weekly, on Monday on charges of denigrating
Turkish identity, by saying in an interview, "Of course, I call this
a genocide. Because the result itself identifies what it is and gives
it a name. You can see that a lot of people who have been living on
these lands for 4,000 years have disappeared."

In its statement, Amnesty pointed to how this is the third time that
Dink alone has faced charges under 301, adding, "Amnesty International
is particularly concerned at this latest prosecution because it seems
to constitute a pattern of judicial harassment against the writer
for peacefully expressing his dissenting opinion."

Maintaining that the group will consider Dink a prisoner of conscience
should he be found guilty, the group said that it considers the latest
prosecution to be particularly disappointing following the welcome
acquittal four days ago of another writer, novelist Elif Safak, on
charges under Article 301 relating to statements made by characters
in her novel "The Bastard of Istanbul."

"The organization had seen this as a positive step for freedom
of expression in Turkey but fears this acquittal may prove to be
the exception rather than the rule and demonstrates yet again the
failure of certain members of the Turkish judiciary and prosecution
to internalize international law, as required by Article 90 of the
Turkish Constitution," the group said. "The organization reiterates
its call for Article 301 to be abolished in its entirety, thereby
putting an end to arbitrary implementation of this ill-defined law."

The group also said that the prosecution arises from a complaint lodged
by elements of civil society opposed to the abolition of Article 301,
who have repeatedly staged provocative and sometimes violent protests
at trials, calling on the Turkish authorities to take all the necessary
measures to protect defendants, their lawyers and supporters.

Journalists call on govt, opposition to abolish Article 301

The Progressive Journalists Association (CGD) also called for the
abolition of Article 301, saying that Safak’s recent acquittal doesn’t
solve the problems related to the controversial article.

CGD head Ahmet Abakay said yesterday, "The article in question
constitutes a threat to all writers and journalists," adding that
the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the ruling
Justice and Development (AK) Party should compete over democracy,
not nationalism.

"I don’t agree with Dink’s statements which resulted in him being
prosecuted again," Abakay said. "But I fully support his freedom
to express his ideas freely. I’m calling on both the CHP and the AK
Party to do away with this shameful article."

In related news, a petition drive was launched on Tuesday to protest
the file cased against Dink and two other top staffers of Agos.

A call to support the campaign was made by musician Sanar Yurdatapan
and academic Taner Akcam.

The petition drive, called, "Hrant Dink Isn’t Alone," quoted Dink’s
remarks which have resulted in the court case, and said, "I agree
with and sign this statement. I want to go on trial in this case."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress