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 VAHIT BICAK, PROFESSOR IN LAW, SAYING: "This amendment does not change much, it is some kind of changes which only play with words. In essence, there is not much difference, the cases will continue and this article will continue to be a threat to Turkish authors and intellectual people."
MOD-DATE: 04/30/08 14:48:35
WORLD3-APR30-TURKEY-RIGHTS / REFORM
WORLD3: STORY 337
RIGHTS / REFORM
ANKARA, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
APRIL 30, 2008 FILE DECEMBER 2005 FILE JULY 2006 FILE JANUARY 2007
NATURAL WITH ENGLISH AND TURKISH SPEECH
DURATION:03:03
SOURCE:REUTERS
FEED HISTORY:+ NEW W3 (1330GMT)
INTRO: Turkish parliament approves free speech reform.
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**~
Turkey's parliament revises a law criticised by the European Union for
limiting free speech, although academics, writers and activists say the reform
does not go far enough.
SHOWS: (W3) ANKARA, TURKEY (APRIL 30, 2008) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. PARLIAMENTARIANS IN TURKISH PARLIAMENT DISCUSSING REFORM BILL TO SOFTEN
NOTORIOUS TURKISH PENAL CODE 301
2. VARIOUS OF TURKISH PARLIAMENT AND PARLIAMENTARIANS
3. DEPUTY PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER MERAL AKSENER ANNOUNCING REFORM BILL
PASSED
4. VAHIT BICAK, PROFESSOR IN LAW, WORKING AT HIS OFFICE
5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VAHIT BICAK, PROFESSOR IN LAW, SAYING:
"This amendment does not change much, it is some kind of changes
which only play with words. In essence, there is not much difference, the
cases will continue and this article will continue to be a threat to Turkish
authors and intellectual people."
(W3) ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FILE - DECEMBER 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
6. NOBEL LITERATURE LAUREATE ORHAN PAMUK LEAVING COURTHOUSE WHERE HE WAS
TRIED UNDER TURKISH PENAL CODE 301 FOR INSULTING "TURKISHNESS"
7. PAMUK GETTING INTO CAR SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS AND PROTESTERS
8. PROTESTERS THROWING EGGS TO PAMUK'S CAR
9. PAMUK'S CAR DRIVING AWAY
(W34) ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FILE - JULY 14, 2006) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) HRANT DINK, ARMENIAN EDITOR IN INTERVIEW WITH
REUTERS AFTER WHICH HE WAS TRIED UNDER PENAL CODE 301 FOR WHAT HE SAID IN
INTERVIEW BEFORE AND LATER HE WAS SHOT DEAD BY GUNMAN IN JANUARY 2007,
SAYING:
"I do not use the term genocide (to explain what happened to
Armenians in Ottoman Empire in 1915). But, if (they) insist me to name (what
happened in 1915), of course, I say that it was a genocide."
10. HRANT DINK WALKING AT ARMENIAN WEEKLY AGOS OFFICE AND WORKING WITH HIS
COLLEAGUE
(W3) ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FILE - JANUARY 19, 2008) (FILE DHA - ACCESS ALL)
11. HRANT DINK SHOT DEAD IN FRONT OF ARMENIAN WEEKLY AGOS OFFICE AND HIS
BODY ON GROUND
12. VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS AND PEOPLE CRYING AROUND SECURITY CORDON
13. HRANT DINK'S BODY ON GROUND
(W3) ISTANBUL, TURKEY (APRIL 30, 2008) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
14. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN ISTANBUL CROSSING STREET
15. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) ISMET ACIKGOZ, PHOTOGRAPHER, SAYING:
"Well, I accept that there is still freedom of speech in Turkey,
and I support and approve what is being carried out for this purpose. If
there was no harsh opposition against government and its deeds, I can say that
it seems everything is going pretty well, it is not perfect but
well."
16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON STREET
STORY: Turkey's parliament approved early on Wednesday (April 30) a
long-awaited revision of a law criticised by the European Union for limiting
free speech, although academics, writers and activists say the reform does not
go far enough.
State news agency Anatolian said the reform to the controversial
article 301 of the penal code was approved with 250 votes for and 65 against.
It was approved after some eight hours of mostly late-night debate amid fierce
criticism from the nationalist opposition.
The article has been used to prosecute hundreds of writers, including
Nobel Literature Laureate Orhan Pamuk, for "insulting Turkishness"
upon his comments on the massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915-16.
Turkey denies claims by Armenians and many Western historians that the
killings constituted genocide.
After the reform, it will be a crime to insult the Turkish nation,
rather than Turkishness, and the justice minister's permission will be
required to open a case. The maximum sentence will be cut to two years from
three.
But writers and publishers fear they will continue to face frequent
trials as they argue that the changes are minor while other laws restricting
freedom of expression remain intact.
"This amendment does not change much, it is some kind of changes
which only play with words. In essence, there is not much difference, the
cases will continue and this article will continue to be a threat to Turkish
authors and intellectual people," said Vahit Bicakci, Professor in
Law.
Brussels had also given a lukewarm response to the reform. On a recent
trip to Turkey, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was
a step in the right direction.
The EU has said easing restrictions on free speech is a test of
Turkey's commitment to political reform as Ankara looks to advance slow-moving
membership talks which began in 2005.
The reform has been controversial in Turkey, where nationalism has
grown in recent years along with disillusionment with the EU.
Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink, who was shot dead by an
ultra-nationalist youth last year, had been convicted under article 301.
Turkey's far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accused the
government on Tuesday (April 29) of betraying the country's identity, and
instead pandering to EU demands that it reform laws prohibiting Turks from
insulting their nation.
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) also opposes the
reform.
The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), whose members often end up in court for expressing views on the Kurdish issue, want to abolish the article. |
