MEPS APPEAL TO THE TURKISH MINISTER OF JUSTICE

armradio.am
21.04.2008 15:58

Four eminent members of the European Parliament – Mrs Koppa and Mr
Toubon, both vice-presidents of the delegation EU-Turkey, Mr Gaubert,
vice-president of the sub-committee on Human Rights and president of
Licra, Mr Kasoulides, former minister of Foreign Affairs and recent
candidate for the Cypriot presidency – have recently sent a letter
to the Turkish Minister of Justice, Mr Sahin, in order to inform him
of the Union’s concern about the trial developments in Ragip Zarakolu
case. The MEPs mention that the "long, costly and morally exhausting"
trial comes from "judicial relentlessness." They are also worried
about Mr. Zarakolu’s "physical security" regarding "nationalistic
renewal in Turkey" especially revealed by the "murder of Hrant Dink
and the revelations referring to the criminal organization Ergenekon".

The MEPs ask Mr Sahin to "abrogate without any delay the 301 article
and similar clauses" of the Turkish Penal Code and "other legislative
and statutory texts which are effective in Turkey". They also ask
for the cessation of "iniquitous prosecutions" in opposition to Mr
Zarakolu and they underline that his "condemnation and even more,
any attempt to his integrity will constitute a cutting contradiction
to the European ambitions of Turkey".

On April 9, at the end of another hearing of Mr Zarakolu, the criminal
court in Istanbul decided to postpone the hearings until June 17,
i.e. after the possible adoption by the Turkish Parliament of the
amendments tabled by the AKP government referring to the 301 and 305
articles of the TPC.

Mr Zarakolu is a publisher and militates for several years in favour
of Human Rights in Turkey. He is one of the founding members of
the Turkish Association for Human Rights and he forms part of those
dissidents prosecuted under the 301 article for having "insulted the
State and the Republic" and "the memory of Ataturk".

In this case, Mr Zarakolu is prosecuted following the article 301
because he published two books on the Armenian genocide, the founding
act and the major taboo of the Turkish state and society. One of the
books deals with the rescue of an Armenian family by Turks during
the genocide!

"Mr Zarakolu case is without any doubt one of the most symbolic trials
instituted by the Turkish State against one of its dissidents. Apart
from the penal condemnation, Mr Zarakolu is enduring financial
difficulties deliberately induced by the trial in order to reduce
him to silence.

Moreover, he fears now for his life as the trials are only a way to
point out the potential victims to the killer teams controlled by
the State" commented Laurent Leylekian, the executive director of
the European Armenian Federation.

According to the latest news, the "reform" proposed by the AKP
recommends to replace in the 301 article which penalizes "the insult
to the Turkish identity, the Republic, State institutions and organs"
the terms "Turkish identity" and "Republic" respectively by "Turkish
nation" and "Turkish Republic".

The Federation considers that this "reform" will change nothing to
the Turkish prosecutors dealings who – according to a recent poll –
consider themselves as the guardians of the "National interest" of
their country. "The Turkish prosecutors will continue prosecuting
in the same way those who dare to speak about the Armenian Genocide,
the occupation of Cyprus, or oppression of the Kurds. Europe has to
force Turkey to abrogate these articles which clearly violate the
Copenhagen criteria by penalizing the freedom of expression not only
of Turks but also of Europeans", concluded Laurent Leylekian.

Several international organizations, such as the International
Publishers Association, the League for Human Rights, Amnesty
International mobilized and launched petition campaigns and alerted
the European Commission in the framework of Turkey’s "accession
process". They also point out that these trials violate at the same
time "freedom of expression" and the "right to a fair and impartial
trial" which are theoretically guaranteed by the European Convention
on Human Rights. They ask for a total abolition of the 301 article
and other similar clauses of the Turkish Penal Code.