Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
Dutch FM asks clarification on the prosecution of Temel Demirer
The Hague, 1 November 2008 – Mr. Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Netherlands, has asked his Turkish colleague for clarification on the
decision of the Turkish Minister of Justice to give permission to prosecute
writer Temel Demirer. This is indicated in answers of Mr. Verhagen to
written questions submitted on 26 September 2008 by the Dutch Parliament.
The questions were presented by Members of four factions in Dutch
Parliament, namely the Christian Union, the CDA (Christian Democrats), the
SGP (Political Reformed Party) and the VVD (Liberal Party) after a report by
the Federation of Armenian Organisations in Netherlands (FAON) that Mr.
Demirer was being prosecuted because of his statements on the Armenian
Genocide.
Mr. Verhagen has also expressed his concern publicly during a speech in the
Bosphorus Conference on the lack of progress by Turkey in, among others,
sphere of the freedom of expression. He has pointed to a clear relationship
of this state of affairs with the application of Article 301.
The statements by Mr. Demirer were made during a commemorative service after
the murder of Hrant Dink in 2006, when he said that Dink had to pay with his
life for speaking the truth about the Armenian Genocide. Dink was killed by
a Turkish nationalist after he had been condemned by court on the basis of
Article 301 because of his statements on the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Verhagen notifies in his response that Turkish Minister of Justice has
so far issued permission for prosecution in 44 out of 311 cases, which have
been laid before him. The majority of them are cases which were under
adjudication before the amendment of Article 301. The arguments that the
Turkish government puts forth for the issuance of permission to persecute
these 44 cases are as yet not known. Mr. Verhagen is due to be informed
further about this.
In addition, Mr. Verhagen asserts in his answers that the application of
Article 301 shall stringently be dealt with in the appreciation that
Netherlands is going to give on the Progress Report due to be published
shortly by the European Commission in connection with Turkey. Netherlands
will also keep a strict watch so that the European norms and conditions are
compiled with if the chapters on ³Judicial power and the Fundamental
Freedoms² (Chapter 23) and ³Justice, Freedom and Security² (Chapter 24) will
come up for discussion in the framework of EU accession negotiations. This
applies to the political dialogue as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
