PanARMENIAN.Net

Elif Shafak prosecuted for `insulting Turkishness’ receives Freedom of
Speech award
30.06.2007 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish Union of Publishers has handed the
Freedom of Speck award to writer Elif Shafak, the author of `The
Bastard of Istanbul’, which once caused prosecution against her. When
speaking during the ceremony Ms. Shafak said this award is very
important for her and fills her with strength.

Besides, the Turkish Union of Publishers has issued a report which
rates 2006 as the most negative year as regards freedom of speech. In
2006-2007 legal proceeding were launched against 43 writers and 24
publishing houses, the report says, Turkish media reports.

Arizona University professor, renowned Turkish writer and Zaman
columnist Elif Shafak stood trial under article 301 of the Turkish
Criminal Code, which provides for imprisonment up to 3 years. The
novel of the 35-year-old writer tells about the events in 1915 in the
Ottoman Empire.

Charges against her were, however, dropped. The Beyoglu (Supreme)
Court in Istanbul decided that there was not sufficient evidence for
the crime, so Shafak could not be prosecuted.