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INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN TURKISH PIANIST IS CHARGED WITH INSULTING ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS VALUES
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/internationally-known-turkish-pianist-is-charged-with-insulting-islamic-religious-values/2012/06/01/gJQAfyFo6U_story.html
June 1 2012
ANKARA, Turkey - A Turkish court on Friday formally charged an
internationally known pianist and composer with insulting Islamic
religious values in comments he made on Twitter.
The court in Istanbul voted to approve an indictment against Fazil Say,
who has played piano with the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony
Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, National Orchestra of France and
Tokyo Symphony.
The 42-year-old Turk faces charges of inciting hatred and public
enmity, and insulting "religious values." Say, who has served as a
culture ambassador for the European Union, allegedly mocked Islamic
beliefs about paradise in April.
Meltem Akyol, a lawyer for Say, said the pianist has denied the
charges. The trial will be held on Oct. 18, she said.
"We certainly do not accept the charges," Akyol said by telephone
on Friday. "He has stated in his initial testimony during the probe
that he had no intention to humiliate any religion. He was basically
criticizing those who are exploiting religion for profit."
Akyol said Say's tweets and retweets on social media cannot be
considered as public remarks because only people who follow him can
see them. In one tweet cited in the indictment, Say said: "What if
there is raki (traditional anisette drink) in paradise but not in hell,
while there is Chivas Regal (scotch) in hell and not in paradise? What
will happen then? This is the most important question!!"
Islam forbids alcohol and many Islamists might consider such remarks
unacceptable. In one of the pianist's retweets, one excerpt questioned
whether paradise was a "brothel?" according to the indictment.
Akyol claimed that line belonged to the wine-loving 11th century
Persian poet Omar Khayyam, most known for his work the "Rubaiyat of
Omar Khayyam." But Murat Bardakci, a historian, wrote in HaberTurk
newspaper in April that the alleged line did not belong to Khayyam.
"He was merely expressing his ideas within free speech," said Akyol,
adding that the renowned artist was not seeking any privileges or
immunity from prosecution.
Akyol, meanwhile, confirmed that Say closed his Twitter account before
the court decision Friday, because he was annoyed with messages.
"He has lately incurred the wrath of some people," Akyol said. "He
has even been receiving death threats."
Say had floated the idea of leaving Turkey and moving to Japan
earlier this year, his lawyer said. The pianist was abroad and not
available for comment. He was expected to return to Istanbul this
weekend following a concert in Slovenia on Friday.
Say was the latest prominent Turk to run into trouble in the country
for expressing his views. He could face a maximum 1 1/2 years in
prison if he is convicted.
The European Union has long encouraged Turkey to improve freedom of
speech if it wants to become a member one day.
Turkey's Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk has been prosecuted for his
comments about the mass killings of Armenians under a law that made
it a crime to insult the Turkish identity before the government eased
that law in an amendment in 2008.
In 2007, ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who received death
threats because of his comments about the killings of Armenians by
Turks in 1915, was shot dead outside his office in Istanbul.
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/internationally-known-turkish-pianist-is-charged-with-insulting-islamic-religious-values/2012/06/01/gJQAfyFo6U_story.html
June 1 2012
ANKARA, Turkey - A Turkish court on Friday formally charged an
internationally known pianist and composer with insulting Islamic
religious values in comments he made on Twitter.
The court in Istanbul voted to approve an indictment against Fazil Say,
who has played piano with the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony
Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, National Orchestra of France and
Tokyo Symphony.
The 42-year-old Turk faces charges of inciting hatred and public
enmity, and insulting "religious values." Say, who has served as a
culture ambassador for the European Union, allegedly mocked Islamic
beliefs about paradise in April.
Meltem Akyol, a lawyer for Say, said the pianist has denied the
charges. The trial will be held on Oct. 18, she said.
"We certainly do not accept the charges," Akyol said by telephone
on Friday. "He has stated in his initial testimony during the probe
that he had no intention to humiliate any religion. He was basically
criticizing those who are exploiting religion for profit."
Akyol said Say's tweets and retweets on social media cannot be
considered as public remarks because only people who follow him can
see them. In one tweet cited in the indictment, Say said: "What if
there is raki (traditional anisette drink) in paradise but not in hell,
while there is Chivas Regal (scotch) in hell and not in paradise? What
will happen then? This is the most important question!!"
Islam forbids alcohol and many Islamists might consider such remarks
unacceptable. In one of the pianist's retweets, one excerpt questioned
whether paradise was a "brothel?" according to the indictment.
Akyol claimed that line belonged to the wine-loving 11th century
Persian poet Omar Khayyam, most known for his work the "Rubaiyat of
Omar Khayyam." But Murat Bardakci, a historian, wrote in HaberTurk
newspaper in April that the alleged line did not belong to Khayyam.
"He was merely expressing his ideas within free speech," said Akyol,
adding that the renowned artist was not seeking any privileges or
immunity from prosecution.
Akyol, meanwhile, confirmed that Say closed his Twitter account before
the court decision Friday, because he was annoyed with messages.
"He has lately incurred the wrath of some people," Akyol said. "He
has even been receiving death threats."
Say had floated the idea of leaving Turkey and moving to Japan
earlier this year, his lawyer said. The pianist was abroad and not
available for comment. He was expected to return to Istanbul this
weekend following a concert in Slovenia on Friday.
Say was the latest prominent Turk to run into trouble in the country
for expressing his views. He could face a maximum 1 1/2 years in
prison if he is convicted.
The European Union has long encouraged Turkey to improve freedom of
speech if it wants to become a member one day.
Turkey's Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk has been prosecuted for his
comments about the mass killings of Armenians under a law that made
it a crime to insult the Turkish identity before the government eased
that law in an amendment in 2008.
In 2007, ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who received death
threats because of his comments about the killings of Armenians by
Turks in 1915, was shot dead outside his office in Istanbul.