NOBEL PRIZE WINNER OHRAN PAMUK ATTACKS TURKISH GOVERNMENT

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[12:28 pm] 15 October, 2008

Turkish writer Ohran Pamuk, Nobel Prize holder in Literature, accused
Turkey on Tuesday of restricting freedom of expression, and of the
inaugural ceremony of the Frankfurt’s Fair of the Book assisted by
Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul.

"Turkey’s Government unfortunately continues to punish writers and
prohibit books," he said, adding that "the censure has always been
in force in the country on the basis of article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code, with which one tries to intimidate writers like me, of the
hundreds of authors and journalists trailed in justice and condemned,"
noted the Nobel Prize Holder 2006.

"Some were even killed. Me, I am alive here and I am ready to make
the opening speech," he said to journalists.

"The access to Youtube and other Turkish websites are forbidden in
Turkey for political reasons," he still denounced, ensuring however
that "the authors and editors did not yield to intimidations."

To remind, the author of the "Snow" had been worried by Turkish
justice and stance in 2005 to denounce the Armenian Genocide.

However, at the end of the inaugural speech, President Gul
diplomatically applauded the writer.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress