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Turkishness is topic at book fair

By Amanda Bensen Posted Nov 30 2007

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Freedom of expression is limited in Turkey under a notoriously vague provision in its penal code, Authors who refer to the killings of over one million Armenians and Kurds in Anatolia during World War I as genocide have been frequently charged under this law, most famously the Nobel laureate and novelist Orhan Pamuk and ethnic Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink.

Several Turkish writers and publishers at the International Book Fair said they work in a climate of fear and self-censorship due in part to Article 301, which makes it a crime to publicly insult “Turkishness,” the state or its institutions. They hope that the international attention generated by the next year's fair could increase pressure on the government to change the law.

“We are hoping Article 301 will be abolished, otherwise no one in their right mind can say there is true freedom of expression; true democracy in Turkey,” said Tugrul Eryilmaz, an editor for the Istanbul newspaper Radikal. “What is Turkishness, anyway? And how do they measure it?” he asked. “If they do not abolish this measure in the next year, I do not think many Turkish writers will attend the fair. I hope not. I hope there will be a protest.”

Ragip Zarakolu, chairman of the Freedom to Publish committee for the Turkish Publisher's Association, said the past year has been one of the worst yet in terms of freedom of expression for Turkish publishers, with 43 authors and 24 publishing houses taken to court for their works.

Zarakolu and his publishing house Belge, which specializes in books about minority rights and human rights, have faced over 40 lawsuits in 30 years under Article 301 or similar legal provisions, he said. He is now awaiting a December verdict in his latest court battle, facing up to three years in prison for publishing a book that challenges Turkey's official stance on the Armenian genocide question.

“It's a struggle for the truth, so we will go on,” he said, sounding weary.

At a press conference previewing next year's book fair program, Ertugrul Gunay, Turkey's Minister for Culture and Tourism, faced several questions about the country's curbs on free speech.

Gunay said the current government “has the political will” to eliminate Article 301 and create a new constitution with greater protections from freedom of speech.

“I am aware of the difficult times that Turkish publishers have had to survive,” he said. “I believe that all these obstacles will be dismantled and torn down. I am very hopeful.”

He noted that the state has recently begun to support private publishing rather than controlling it, citing 25 percent growth in the number of publications in three of the past four years.

The works of Pamuk, the novelist, were a prominent part of the country's book fair display, and the charges against him have been dropped. He will likely be a speaker at next year's book fair, said a spokesperson for this publisher, Ileti m.

But official efforts to promote free speech cannot fully solve the problem, some Turkish intellectuals said.

“In formal terms there are reforms and improvements, to be sure, but there is another level of something going on in Turkey, which cannot be reformed by law,” said Nazan Maksuyan, a writer and historian from Istanbul.

She pointed to the case of Hrant Dink, the editor, who was assassinated by an ultra-nationalist in January of this year. His son and another journalist from Dink's paper, Agos, received a one-year suspended prison sentence this month for publishing Dink's comments.

“We were feeling quite positive in recent years, but the assassination has changed a lot for us,” Maksuyan said. “Sometimes, you feel braver and you say things. But it is always in your mind…invisible, but powerful.”

Gunay, the culture minister, also referenced Dink's death with sadness, calling the editor a friend and noting that millions of Turks publicly protested the killing.

“We are aware that freedom of speech and the respect for human rights are basis for every democracy, and that democracy is grounded on mutual understanding and tolerance,” he said. “It is our deepest wish to keep this diversity alive and protect it in all its colors.”

In an interview, Gunay said his ministry would place no restrictions on the subject material or authors to be included in Turkey's presentation at the book fair next year, including Kurdish and Armenian writers. This year, at least one Armenian publishing house, Aras, was invited for the first time.

Juergen Boos, director of the book fair, said he thinks the controversy about Turkey's guest of honor status could provoke useful discussions, particularly as the European Union considers Turkey's possible accession. He emphasized the book fair's commitment to protecting pluralist values and free expression.

“We are firmly convinced that books stand for freedom of speech,” he said.