ERDOGAN WELCOMES SHAFAK’S ACQUITTAL
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.09.2006 15:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
welcomed the acquittal of renowned Turkish novelist Elif Shafak in the
case for which she was accused of insulting Turkishness. PM Erdogan
told reporters on Thursday that he was happy that Shafak was acquitted
in the controversial case. Recalling that he phoned Shafak yesterday to
congratulate her on the birth of her baby daughter, Erdogan stated that
he exchanged his views with her on the case. Erdogan also signaled an
amendment on the much debated Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code,
under which many well-known Turkish writers and authors had been
tried or sued. In response to a question on whether the government
thought of an amendment on the controversial article, Erdogan pointed
out that it would be possible provided that the ruling and opposition
parties reach an agreement, reported Zaman.