Turkish fiction writer Elif Shafak avoided prison today. she was brought to trial under Article 301, an ominously sounding law on speech and the written word in Turkey. Acquitted for the crime of insulting Turkish national identity, she’s one of several writers accused and tried for this crime. Apparently bringing up the fact that almost one million Armenians were murdered in the early 20th century is bad form. Several dozen writers of non-fiction and fiction are awaiting trial for voicing various opinions on Turkish history and policy, rendering free speech in that country a fragile risk. Insulting Turkishness is a vague term, usually limited to people to criticize those in power, and often used to stifle opinion. When The Bastard of Istanbul is published next year (not Shafak’s novel), I’m tempted to buy it just to grab onto that ability to speak one’s mind.
Science Fiction
Archives
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- July 2023
- May 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- November 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- September 2017
- May 2017
- October 2016
- October 2014
- June 2014
- November 2013
- October 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- March 2012
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- December 2010
- October 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- May 2009
- March 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
Ironic, isn’t it? Holocaust denial is a crime punishable by imprisonment in some European countries. In Turkey the opposite is a crime!
Of course, neither should be a crime. One would hope the people would have confidence in open debate even if the truth doesn’t prevail at every moment. Nothing is as powerful in putting to rest a vicious lie as destroying it in a vigorous and open debate.
It is cartoons as well – I blogged news of the Turkish PM yet again attempting to sue a political cartoonist over their depiction of him. Total lack of freedom of speech, worst human rights record in Europe and they wonder why they are having trouble getting admitted to the EU? Hmm. Good news is so far the PM has failed in each court case. Post is here with links to the articles: http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=1361.