March 18, 2008

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara 
Turkey

Foreign Minister and State Minister for Human Rights
Mr. Abdullah Gül
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara  
Turkey

Your Excellencies,

On behalf of the 3,400 members of PEN American Center, an international organization of writers dedicated to protecting freedom of expression wherever it is threatened, we are writing to express our alarm at the news that the upcoming trial hearing against Ragip Zarakolu could result in a conviction.

According to our information, charges were brought against Ragip Zarakolu under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for having “insulted the Army” and also “Turkishness” by publishing a book by Professor Dora Sakayan entitled An Armenian Doctor in Turkey: Garabed Hatcherian: My Smyrna Ordeal of 1922. The case, which had its first hearing in August 2005, is scheduled to have its next hearing on April 8, 2008. Mr. Zarakolu faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

PEN American Center is seriously concerned about continuing efforts to prosecute Ragip Zarakolu under Article 301 and believe all such charges against him should be dropped immediately. Further, we are aware that Mr. Zarakolu is among the many writers, journalists, and publishers who continue to be brought before the Turkish courts under Penal Code Article 301 in violation of their right to freedom of expression. We believe these charges to be in direct violation of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, to which the Turkish government is a signatory. We therefore call on the Turkish authorities to halt all trials that fall under this law until the Penal Code is again reviewed with the aim of removing all clauses that allow for the conviction of literary professionals solely for the legitimate practice of their profession.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
              
Hannah Pakula                  
Chair, Freedom to Write Committee   

Larry Siems
Director, Freedom to Write and International Programs

CC: H.E. Nabi Sensoy
Embassy of Turkey to the United States

>> Back to Rapid Action