[Congressional Record: September 26, 2006 (House)]
[Page H7351]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr26se06-50]
TURKISH PENAL CODE–ELIF SHAFAK’S TRIAL
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, last week Turkey put renowned novelist Elif
Shafak on trial for charges that she insulted Turkishness because the
character in her latest book refers to the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915 as genocide. Nine months pregnant, Shafak was forced
to defend herself, or, more specifically, a fictional character in her
book, to prevent going to jail.
Although Shafak was acquitted, Turkey continues to use forms of
intimidation to deny its citizens their right to freedom of expression.
It lobbies for its so-called rightful role in the international
community, yet it does not live up to democratic principles and
standards.
Mr. Speaker, in 1915 a systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians occurred. Over the
following 8 years, over 1.5 million Armenians were tortured and
murdered, and more than half a million were forced from their homeland
into exile. To this day the Republic of Turkey refuses to acknowledge
the fact that this massive crime against humanity took place in the
name of Turkish nationalism.
When it comes to facing the judgment of history about the Armenian
genocide, Turkey has chosen to trample on the rights of its citizens to
maintain its lies. The trial of Ms. Shafak is a perfect example of the
depths the Turkish authorities will go in order to deny the Armenian
genocide. Their refusal simply has no limits.
Article 301 of the Turkish penal code was used against Shafak. It is
the same law that was used against another author, Orhan Pamuk, in
2005. It states that any person who, quote, insults the republic can be
jailed for between 6 months to 3 years.
Mr. Speaker, more than 60 similar cases have been brought against
writers and artists in Turkey. The law is being used to silence
political voices in the country. In this instance, it disturbingly was
used to charge a made-up character in a book.
Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased that the European Parliament’s
Foreign Affairs Committee, on September 4, insisted Turkey make
substantial changes in many areas before the nation could ever be
accepted as a member of the European Union. On September 4, that
Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament announced that
Turkey had failed to align its laws with the European Union standards,
and in particular, it noted Turkey’s lack of recognition of the
Armenian genocide, its illegal occupation of the northern third of
Cyprus, religious inequality and its oppressive penal code. But Turkish
authorities continue to deny their citizens the freedoms that Americans
and other democracies across the world value so greatly. Without them,
a true democracy does not exist.
Until Turkey can guarantee key principles of a democracy, it should
not be allowed to join the European Union. In addition, Turkey needs to
abide by international law in its dealings with its neighbors. Turkey
continues the illegal blockade of Armenia. It refuses entrance of goods
from Cyprus to its ports.
Mr. Speaker, the Turkish Prime Minister is expected to visit with
President Bush sometime in early October, in the next few weeks. In
light of these latest events, in light of the report of the Foreign
Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, I would encourage the
Bush administration to insist that Turkey clean up its act, both with
regard to suppression of the rights of its own citizens, and illegal
and aggressive acts against its neighboring countries.