 |
| Author |
Message |
cannedmoose
Warnings : 4
Moderator
Joined: 12 Aug 2005
Posts: 5357
Location: National Forest, England
|
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4637886.stm
Good news that the case against Orhan Pamuk has reportedly been dropped, after compound pressure from the EU. But was this a victory for free speech in Turkey? Or did Turkey extract some sort of pay-off for agreeing to drop the case... a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by a certain Mr. Straw perhaps? 
The litmus test will be whether the similar charges against the other 60 writers are also dropped, or whether this high-profile case was dropped to create a smokescreen for continued prosecutions.
I am a big supporter of Turkey's EU path, but ridiculous laws banning the insulting of the state should be removed. Fair enough to have laws protecting the state from planned acts of terrorism or attempted overthrow, but simply criticism should be permitted, even if it is hard to stomach. To think that it is not possible to question whether the Turkish state committed genocide in 1915 is ridiculous to me, it would be like being banned in the UK from questioning the use of concentration camps during the Boer War, or raising issues about the British inaction during the Irish potato famine... crazy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Xenos 2Fan
Warnings : 5
Ministerial
Joined: 16 Aug 2005
Posts: 3499
Location: Dallas,Texas/Mersin, Turkey
|
|
| I am all for freedom of speech. I also respect the works of Pamuk. I don't like however, when people with the credentials like those of Pamuk use the "genocide" of armenians and kurds for self glorification. I heard he's trying to get himself moved up on the ladder for the Peace Price. If this is the case I have no respect for him. If I misheard then more power to him. |
|
| Back to top |
|
bg_turk
Deputy
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1316
Location: Bulgaria
|
|
This is a victory for freedom of speech, I am fully behind Orhan Pamuk and his statements.
I did not believe Pamuk lied, he said the truth, which was too uncomfortable for many elements in Turkey. It is high time Turkey rids itself of the restrictions on freedom of speech. |
|
| Back to top |
|
bg_turk
Deputy
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1316
Location: Bulgaria
|
|
| cannedmoose wrote: |
| To think that it is not possible to question whether the Turkish state committed genocide in 1915 is ridiculous to me, it would be like being banned in the UK from questioning the use of concentration camps during the Boer War, or raising issues about the British inaction during the Irish potato famine... crazy. |
Can an irish person claim that the UK committed genocide?
The feelings between armenians and turks are still very bitter. Neighbouring Azerbaijan is under armenian occupation, 1 million azeri turks are refugees and still live in misery as a result of this occupation. Every tenth citizen of azerbaijan is a refugee. Todays turks are victims of armenian agression, and in such a sensitive time turks will never accept any allgeations of genocide as credible.
I would hate to sound like a turkish nationalist, but many turks, which I have now argued on the issue with on other forums, see at as a double standard. In France and Switzerland there is a law which proclaims that "Genocide" did happen and anybody who dares to question it is liable to persecution.
In armenia if you dare question the allegations of genocide they would probably eat you alive.
The natural question many turks ask is why is the west so focused on Turkey, when clearly there are many instance where freedom of speech is not guaranteed in Europe. With their natural inclination to believe in conspiracy theories, many turk simply believe that the armenian issue is another plot by the west to pay reparations and yield territories to the armenians.
And I certainly believe that the west has displayed an enormous degree of double standards when dealin with christians and muslims in teh ottoman empire. In the Balkans when the Russians invaded in 1878 to liberate Bulgaria, as some of my bulgarian turkish friends claimed around 600,000 urban turks have been massacred, something whichi is quite realistic having in mind that every second person on the territories of bulgaria then was turkish. The massacres against the turks and kurds comitted by Armenian "freedom fighters" who collaborated with russian troops are never mentioned either. I can clearly see why many turks are so suspicious when it comes to the west.
In any case I believe Turkey should at least be a step higher than the west in this case concerning freedom of speech. In Turkey apparently it will not be a crime to claim that the massacres were a genocide, but in France it will be a crime to claim that the massacres did not constitute a genocide.
In any case today there are around 200 000 armenians in Turkey, the number of turks in Armenia is equal to 0. Once upon a time Yerevan and Karabakh used to have a thriving turkish community. Have you ever wondered what happened to these turks? |
|
| Back to top |
|
cannedmoose
Warnings : 4
Moderator
Joined: 12 Aug 2005
Posts: 5357
Location: National Forest, England
|
|
| bg_turk wrote: |
| cannedmoose wrote: |
| To think that it is not possible to question whether the Turkish state committed genocide in 1915 is ridiculous to me, it would be like being banned in the UK from questioning the use of concentration camps during the Boer War, or raising issues about the British inaction during the Irish potato famine... crazy. |
Can an irish person claim that the UK committed genocide? |
Yes, and a number have... |
|
| Back to top |
|
Bullika
Warnings : 1
Ministerial
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 3025
Location: World
|
|
| I am one for free speech but be aware that there is a fine line between free speech and inciting ethnic, religious or racial violence. We need to think of the consequences of what we say. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
All times are GMT + 3 Hours
|
| Page 1 of 1 |
| |
 
 
Link Partners
3212 Attacks blocked
|
Register 
Log in 
Album 
Home