REPEAL ARTICLE 301!
Ä°Braha°M Kabaoa~^

Turkish Daily News
April 18 2008

What Others Say:

Turkey spent three years over Article 301 of the penal code.

Now it’s said amendments will solve the problem.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) plans three changes
in the clause:

"Turkish nation" rather than "Turkish identity;" "The State of Republic
of Turkey" instead of "The Republic;" "Authority to launch proceedings
rests with the president" instead of justice minister.

Well, "Turkish nation" reduces the concept of "nation" to ethnical
identity and could be read in racist-nationalist meaning.

"The State of the Republic of Turkey" phrase is not constitutional and
bares the risk of punishment of criticisms targeting administration.

Granting authority to the president also has drawbacks from the point
of independence of justice and rights of accused.

Modification in the article will give negative results, so it should
be repealed.In fact, the entire code needs review to cleanse off
articles deeming freedom of expression is a crime.

However, unless we show a political and social will, reviews will
not be much of help.

The AKP lacks such will but that doesn’t give the right to make
changes in the article.

–Boundary_(ID_BWiun0NphPzay5GPCO+n2A)–