Ragip Zarakolu, director of the Belge International Publishing House, appeared in court once again this week, this time on trial for the Turkish language publication of Prof. Dr. Dora Sakayan’s book “Garabed Hacheryan’s Izmir Journal: An Armenian Doctor’s Experiences ” and George Jerjian’s ” The Truth Will Set Us Free: Armenians and Turks Reconciled”.
The prosecution demands 7.5 years imprisonment for the Turkish translation book “The Truth Will Set Us Free” for which the court has assigned Korkmaz Alemdar and Cafer Yenidogan of the Galatasaray University and Prof. Dr. Emin Artuk of Marmara University as expert witnesses. They are to read and analyse the book for an expert report. Judge Sevim Efendiler adjourned the Jerjian’s case until October 5 th, for delivery of the expert report.
“Garabed Hacheryan’s Izmir Journal: An Armenian Doctor’s Experiences” promises Zarakolu up to 6 years imprisonment if he found guilty of the charges but the court decided this week that statements taken were fulfilling and an additional expert witness report was not required for this publication.
During last session, lawyer Osman Ergin gave a petition to the court, for the testimony by Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran, as an expert witness, who lectures in Ankara University and came to Ýstanbul for his trial.. But Judge Ms. Efendiler did not permit to Prof. Dr. Oran to speak. She said that there are enough proofs for Sakayan’s book to convict. She declared that she will come to last decision about the book, after she read it. Judge Ms. Sevim Efendiler adjourned the Sakayan’s case until October 5th.
Zarakolu: Court should interview author Sakaryan
During the trial before, Istanbul’s number 2 Court of First Instance, Zarakolu submitted a petition to the bench where he explained that author Sakaryan was a lecturer at the Mc Gill University in Canada and that his book put on trial in Turkey had been translated into nine different languages.
Zarakolu said Sakaryan had been honours by the German Presidency for his eminent services in recognition to 50 years of his contributions to the German language.
He said that Sakaryan was author of the most comprehensive work on the “Western Armenian” spoken in Turkey and requested the court to interview the author for her views.
Dora Sakayan accepted to send a letter to the Court. Her letter will be delivered to the Court next trial.
Charges based on controversial articles
Zarakolu faces 6 years imprisonment for the Turkish translation publication of Sakaryan’s book on grounds that he violated the law by publishing context that “degraded Turkisism” and “insulted and ridiculed the Army”.
He faces 7.5 years imprisonment for Jerjian’s book on charges of “insulting and ridiculing the State and Republic” as well as “Insulting the memory of Ataturk”.
The two consecutive hearings on Wednesday were held in the presence of International PEN representative Eugene Schoulgin, writer Fevzi Karadeniz, translator Attila Tuygan, Pencere publications editor Muzaffer Erdogdu, Peri publications editor Ahmet Onal and Yar publications editor Osman Cobanoglu who attended the court in support of Zarakolu.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.