PAMUK: TURKEY CONTINUES RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF SPEECH

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2008 15:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish writer and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk
accused Turkey of restricting freedom of expression during the
inaugural ceremony of the Frankfurt’s Book Fair, independent French
journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Unfortunately, the Turkish state continues to persecute writers
and prohibit books," Pamuk said, adding, "The censure is always in
force in the country. Hundreds of authors and journalists tried and
condemned under the article 301 of the Turkish penal code. Some were
even killed."

"The access to Youtube and some other Turkish and foreign websites
is blocked in Turkey for political reasons," he said.

At the end of the speech, Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who was
also attending, diplomatically applauded the writer.

Pamuk was prosecuted under the article 301 for mentioning the Armenian
Genocide in an interview with a Swiss magazine.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress