TheBookStandard.com
December 5, 2007 Wednesday

Turkish Publisher Faces Prison

Nearly two years after the internationally acclaimed author Orhan
Pamuk narrowly escaped imprisonment for statements that were thought
to "insult Turkishness," the publisher of a British writer goes on
trial today accused of the same charge, reports the Guardian.

Ragip Zarakolu is facing up to three years in prison for publishing a
book — promoting reconciliation between Turks and Armenians — by
George Jerjian, a writer living in London. In February this year, six
months before he went on to become head of state, Turkey’s foreign
minister, Abdullah Gul, declared the need for article 301 to be
revised, but observers say there has been little headway made over
reforming the spirit and letter of the law.