JOINT CALL FOR ABOLITION OF ARTICLE 301
BÝA
Jan 21 2008
Turkey
International PEN, Article 19 and IPA have called on Turkey to abolish
the controversial Article 301.
International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and IPA have issued a joint press
release, in which they describe a letter which was sent to new
President Abdullah Gul:
"International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and the International Publishers
Association call for the abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code Today International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and the International
Publishers Association issued an open letter to the newly-elected
President of Turkey Abdullah Gul.
The letter calls for the abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code. In the letter the three organisations expressed their
deep concern about the impact of Article 301 on the right to freedom
of expression in Turkey and its inconsistency with international law.
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code prohibits public denigration
of "Turkishness", a term that is extremely vague and can be easily
abused. It has been widely used to repress freedom of expression
and open debate in the country. In particularly, the letter draws
President Gul’s attention to the fact that, between April and July
2007, there were 18 trials against 24 people under Article 301.
While welcoming progressive changes to Turkish legislation since
mid-1990s, the letter also points to the fact that hopes that the
Turkish government might consider the abolition of Article 301 faded
away after the assassination of (editor of the Armenian-Turkish weekly
Agos) Hrant Dink in January 2007. Mr. Dink had himself been convicted
under Article 301 and was handed down a six-month suspended sentence
in October 2005.
Since his killing, Article 301 trials continue. The letter also makes
reference to the joint declaration of 41 international and national
NGOs urging the abolition of Article 301 from the Turkish Penal Code –
as well as other provisions violating freedom of expression – issued
on 14 February 2007; it further cites the resolution on the same
issue adopted by ARTICLE 19, International PEN and the International
Publishers Association on 24 November 2006. The letter urges President
Gul to do all in his power to ensure Turkey’s compliance with its
obligations under international law, particularly through the abolition
of Article 301."
–Boundary_(ID_7S1LffjwfZ/45X3A/dquoA) —