17 June 2008

 

RAN 17/06 Update 3

 

TURKEY

 

For information - clarification

 

With reference to the Rapid Action Alert issued today, please note that previous alerts on Ragip Zarakolu issued in 2007 and 2008, stated that he had been acquitted for George Jerjian’s The truth will set us free/Armenians and Turks reconciled but the trial continues for the book by Dora Sakayan An Armenian Doctor in Turkey: Garabed Hatcherian: My Smyrna Ordeal of 1922, which was an error, now corrected in the most recent alert.

 

This error occurred as a result of some confusion around the reporting of the trials in 2007 when Zarakolu was before the courts for both books, both under Article 301, tried as separate cases although usually hearings were held on the same day.

 

The WiPC has since spoken with Ragip Zarakolu who explains that in May 2007, at one of the many trial hearings against him for the Dora Sakayan’s book, Attila Tuygan, translator of Dora Sakayan’s book, came to the court to testify as a defence witness, and stated that as translator of the book, he held himself responsible. As a result, Zarakolu was acquitted. However a new trial against the book, under Article 301 of the Penal Code and with translator Attilla Tuygan held responsible, is due to open some time this summer. 

 

Zarakolu describes the convoluted and complex trials against him as “kafka-esque”, an apt description.

 

The WiPC apologises for errors in previous reports.

 

 

For further details contact Sara Whyatt at the Writers in Prison Committee London Office: Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER UK Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0338  Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0339  e-mail: wipc@internationalpen.org.uk

 

Sara Whyatt

Programme Director

Writers in Prison Committee

International PEN

Brownlow House

50/51 High Holborn

London WC1V 6ER

UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0338

Fax: + ff (0) 20 7405 0339

Email: sara.whyatt@internationalpen.org.uk

 

  

 

 

print