Turkish Author Who Criticizes Armenian Conference, Loses Book Contract
Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 4 2005
The recently delayed “Ottoman Armenians During the Collapse of the
Empire” conference, which caused a storm of critcism around it, is
responsible for a parting in paths of Turkish writer Nihat Genc and
the Turkish Iletisim (Communications) Publishing House. Iletisim is
known a left-wing group.
Genc, who used his weekly column in the Aksam Newspaper to join in
the chorus of criticism against the conference organizers, received
word from the publishing house following his column that they would
no longer be publishing his books.
Genc: My Ideas Affected Them
In Genc’s column yesterday in Aksam, the writer said:
“Iletisim has said that my books, which they have been publishing
now for 12 years, will no longer be published by them. Oh well,
that’s their decision. If it were a matter of friendship, they would
continue. But clearly my ideas affected them. The fact that they
will no longer publish my books is a sign of their lack of respect
for ideas.”
Publishing House: Genc’s Writing Becoming “Fascist” in Nature
According to Iletisim Publishing House, the decision to discontinue
the Genc’s books was made by the board.
A spokeperson for the publishing house said that their general feeling
was the Genc’s writing and commentaries were become more and more
“fascist” and that they were uncomfortable with this. They defended
their right to stop publishing Genc’s work, and said it had nothing
to do with his freedom of speech.
Nihat Genc has also indicated that his books, which were until now
on sale at most Migros supermarkets, had been sent back to Iletisim
Publishing. A spokesperson from Migros denied this however.
‘The Armenian Conference’ will be hold later. The Conference organizers
invited only the pro-Armenian authors and experts.