AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CRITICISES ARTICLE 301 OF TURKISH PENAL CODE
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Sept 27 2006
The recently passed article of the Penal Code covers the crime of
"insulting Turkish identity".
Guncelleme: 17:30 TSÝ 27 Eylul 2006 CarþambaANKARA – Amnesty
International (AI) has criticised the latest court case opened against
journalist Hrant Dink, chief editor of the Armenian paper Agos,
by Turkish prosecutors.
AI issued a statement Wednesday saying that article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code was targeting journalists using their freedom of expression.
The rights organisation voiced its concerns over the article being
used to stiffle writers expressing their dissident views peacefully.
AI said that article 301 should be abolished and be replaced by an
article that is clear cut and that would not to lead to any arbitrary
practices.
Dink has been charged over a statement he gave to the Reuters news
agency concerning the so-called Armenian genocide. Dink was given a
suspended six months prison term after being found guilty of insulting
Turkish identity earlier this year. In the event Dink is found guilty
in his present case, he would have to serve his previous sentence as
well as any penalty handed down by the court.
–Boundary_(ID_VJcnjce0kfCXgU6uJh1cQA)–