BIAnet.org, Turkey
May 22 2013
Author NiÅ?anyan Sentenced to 13.5 Months of Prison
Istanbul 14th Peace Court convicted author Sevan NiÅ?anyan to 13.5
months of prison for `openly insulting religious values of a certain
faction of the society’ in one of his articles.
Ä°stanbul – BIA News Desk 22 May 2013, Wednesday
Istanbul 14th Peace Court convicted author Sevan NiÅ?anyan to 13.5
months of prison for insulting Prophet Mohammed in one of his
articles.
While NiÅ?anyan’s sentence can not be commuted to a fine due to a
previous judgement, the verdict is open for appeal.
`Ridiculing with an Arab leader who claimed to have contacted God and
gained political, financial and sexual gains from it. This is
kindergarten level example of expression freedom,’ NiÅ?anyan wrote on
29 September 2012 in his article called `We should battle hate
crimes’.
Following the release of the article, 15 individuals separately filed
complaints against NiÅ?anyan for `openly insulting religious values of
a certain faction of the society’.
NiÅ?anyan shared his defense with his followers on twitter after the
verdict was announced.
He also wrote `These dudes are going to sue me. This is earning money
from the shoulder of God. Good business,’ he wrote previously on
twitter.
In April famous pianist Fazıl Say was also convicted to 10 months of
prison for `insulting religious values’ through his twitter messages.
(EKN/BM)