TURKEY: Monthly “301” Action

19 March 2008

17 March 2008

PEN members are asked to continue the monthly action taking place on or around 19^th of each month in memory of the murdered Armenian-Turkish Editor, Hrant Dink, killed on that day in January 2007.

*Total number of writers and journalists on trial under Article 301 – 21*

Ø PEN Calls on its Members to Protest Trial Against Publisher Ragip Zarakolu – Faced with Imprisonment for Insult

On 8 April 2008, there will be a hearing of the long standing trial against publisher Ragip Zarakolu, who tells PEN that on this day, the final verdict will be announced. If convicted, he could be given a sentence of up to three years in prison. Zarakolu is well known to PEN members worldwide not only for his courageous stance against suppression of free speech and in support of minority rights in Turkey, but also as an active member of Turkish PEN. International PEN calls on all PEN Centres to send appeals to the Turkish authorities, following the guidance given in the attach Rapid Action Alert.

If you have not received the Rapid Action alert by email, it can be accessed by clicking http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=763&type=current

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