Orhan Pamuk Begins Trial in Turkey

Posted on December 16, 2005

Bloomberg reports on the trial of Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who is accused of "insulting his nation's identity" by writing about some history that the country doesn't wish to acknowledge. Pamuk's case is being watched closely around the world: Turkey's chance to join the European Union could be jeopardized if the outcome isn't in accordance with the EU's stance on civil and human rights.

Pamuk, who has said the country persecuted Armenians during World War I, is among 60 Turkish writers and publishers being prosecuted for their views. Should Istanbul's Sisli Court of First Instance find him guilty, Pamuk may be jailed for three years.

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn yesterday called the trial a "litmus test" of Turkey's commitment to the EU's criteria for membership. Existing laws don't provide sufficient protection for freedom of expression, he said.

"If they really end up putting Pamuk in jail then you might see the EU suspending membership negotiations," said Katinka Barysch of the London-based Center for European Reform, in a telephone interview Dec. 9. "I can't think of anything quite as drastic as locking people up for criticizing the state."

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights has found Turkey in violation of European laws governing freedom of expression 33 times in the first 11 months of the year, up from last year's total of 20.

If Pamuk is sent to jail for criticizing the government, the EU should stick to its guns and break off negotiations. History has shown us that when a country starts jailing writers, it only gets worse from there.


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