Turkey: Delegation of Green MEPs to observe the trial of writer Orhan Pamuk in Istanbul

A delegation of Green MEPs will leave Strasbourg for Istanbul on Thursday, 15 December 2005 to observe the trial of Turkish author Orhan Pamuk.

Pamuk is charged of "insulting Turkishness" according to Article 301 of the criminal code following an interview he gave to the Swiss newspaper "Das Magazin", in which he commented on the killing of Armenians and Kurds in Turkey.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co President of the Greens/EFA group, Joost Lagendijk, President of the EU-Turkey delegation of the EP, Cem Özdemir, Member of the EU-Turkey delegation and Helga Trüpel, German MEP are members of the Green delegation.

Commenting on the aim of the delegation, Joost Lagendijk said:

"This process is a big test for Turkey's commitment to the freedom of expression. To fully respect this fundamental right is essential for Turkey's accession to the EU. This trial like others currently undertaken against against Turkish writers and publishers should have never been opened. The Court in Istanbul must acquit Orhan Pamuk and dismiss the indictment against him. The World is waiting for a strong signal from Turkey that its laws are protecting freedom of speech rather than suppressing it."

Source: www.greens-efa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/102/102300.turkey@en.htm