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The Guardian/Observer, UK
Oct 9 2005
Turkey gags journalist over 'insult'
Just as the EU opens talks with Turkey over its application to join
the European Union comes a reminder that the freedoms the British
press takes for granted are not always extended to its Turkish
equivalent.
Last Friday, a Turkish court gave an Armenian-Turkish journalist a
six-month suspended prison sentence for 'insulting Turkish identity'
in an article he wrote.
The issue of freedom of speech has dogged every stage of Turkey's
efforts to join the European Union. While the EU agreed this week to
start entry talks with Turkey, such court cases are likely to hinder
Ankara's progress toward full membership.
The Istanbul court found Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of the
bilingual Turkish and Armenian weekly Agos newspaper, guilty of
'insulting and weakening Turkish identity through the media' in an
article he wrote last year.
'Whether the sentence was for one day or six years, it doesn't
matter. The important thing, and what saddens me, is that I was
sentenced. I did not commit this crime,' Dink told Reuters.
The article he wrote called on the Armenian diaspora to reject the
anger they felt against Turkey. 'Forget insulting the Turkish
identity, I said to Armenians "let go of your enmity toward Turks",'
Dink said.
The journalist, who founded the Agos newspaper in 1996, said that he
would appeal against the court's verdict and take the case to the
European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
'If I don't get a result, I will not stay with the people I have
supposedly insulted,' he said. 'I will leave the country.'
Oct 9 2005
Turkey gags journalist over 'insult'
Just as the EU opens talks with Turkey over its application to join
the European Union comes a reminder that the freedoms the British
press takes for granted are not always extended to its Turkish
equivalent.
Last Friday, a Turkish court gave an Armenian-Turkish journalist a
six-month suspended prison sentence for 'insulting Turkish identity'
in an article he wrote.
The issue of freedom of speech has dogged every stage of Turkey's
efforts to join the European Union. While the EU agreed this week to
start entry talks with Turkey, such court cases are likely to hinder
Ankara's progress toward full membership.
The Istanbul court found Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of the
bilingual Turkish and Armenian weekly Agos newspaper, guilty of
'insulting and weakening Turkish identity through the media' in an
article he wrote last year.
'Whether the sentence was for one day or six years, it doesn't
matter. The important thing, and what saddens me, is that I was
sentenced. I did not commit this crime,' Dink told Reuters.
The article he wrote called on the Armenian diaspora to reject the
anger they felt against Turkey. 'Forget insulting the Turkish
identity, I said to Armenians "let go of your enmity toward Turks",'
Dink said.
The journalist, who founded the Agos newspaper in 1996, said that he
would appeal against the court's verdict and take the case to the
European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
'If I don't get a result, I will not stay with the people I have
supposedly insulted,' he said. 'I will leave the country.'