BİA, Turkey
Dec 29 2006

Courts Pressure Translators Too
Publisher Zarakolu’s trial for "insulting the Republic" by publishing
books of two Armenian writers took a twist when the judge postponed
the case to include the translators. In two other incidents
translators were tried in freedom of expression cases.

BIA News Center
18/12/2006 Erol ONDEROGLU

BİA (Istanbul) – Publisher Ragip Zarakolu’s case where he’s
tried with 13.5 years imprisonment for "insulting the republic, its
institutions and Ataturk" by publishing two books of Armenian
writers, continued on December 14.

The judge postponed the case, ordering the translator of the books to
be brought to court. This is seen as another attempt to try
translators in freedom of expression cases.

Shafak and Tirman’s translators

Zarakolu stands trial because of publishing Prof. Dora Sakaryan’s
"The Memorials of an Armenian Doctor" and George Jerjian’s "Reality
Will Set Us Free".

Prosecution demands 7.5 years in prison for "insulting and ridiculing
the Republic and the State" of the first case and 6 years for
"insulting Turkishness and the armed forces" for the latter.

Translators Lutfi Taylan Tosun and Aysel Yildirim are being
prosecuted alongside Aram Publishing House owner Fatih Tas for the
Turkish language copy of John Tirman’s book "Spoils of War: The Human
Cost of America’s Arms Trade".

Writer Elif Shafak’s translator Aslı Bicen was also tried when
her book "Father and Bastard" put onto court with the claim of
"insulting Turkishness".

Zarakolu’s cases will continue in March 15.(EO/EU)