Turkish Penal Code -- Elif Shafak's Trial

TURKISH PENAL CODE--ELIF SHAFAK'S TRIAL -- (House of Representatives - September 26, 2006)

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, last week Turkey put renowned novelist Elif Shafak on trial for charges that she insulted Turkishness because the character in her latest book refers to the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as genocide. Nine months pregnant, Shafak was forced to defend herself, or, more specifically, a fictional character in her book, to prevent going to jail.

Although Shafak was acquitted, Turkey continues to use forms of intimidation to deny its citizens their right to freedom of expression. It lobbies for its so-called rightful role in the international community, yet it does not live up to democratic principles and standards.

Mr. Speaker, in 1915 a systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians occurred. Over the following 8 years, over 1.5 million Armenians were tortured and murdered, and more than half a million were forced from their homeland into exile. To this day the Republic of Turkey refuses to acknowledge the fact that this massive crime against humanity took place in the name of Turkish nationalism.

When it comes to facing the judgment of history about the Armenian genocide, Turkey has chosen to trample on the rights of its citizens to maintain its lies. The trial of Ms. Shafak is a perfect example of the depths the Turkish authorities will go in order to deny the Armenian genocide. Their refusal simply has no limits.

Article 301 of the Turkish penal code was used against Shafak. It is the same law that was used against another author, Orhan Pamuk, in 2005. It states that any person who, quote, insults the republic can be jailed for between 6 months to 3 years.

Mr. Speaker, more than 60 similar cases have been brought against writers and artists in Turkey. The law is being used to silence political voices in the country. In this instance, it disturbingly was used to charge a made-up character in a book.

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased that the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, on September 4, insisted Turkey make substantial changes in many areas before the nation could ever be accepted as a member of the European Union. On September 4, that Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament announced that Turkey had failed to align its laws with the European Union standards, and in particular, it noted Turkey's lack of recognition of the Armenian genocide, its illegal occupation of the northern third of Cyprus, religious inequality and its oppressive penal code. But Turkish authorities continue to deny their citizens the freedoms that Americans and other democracies across the world value so greatly. Without them, a true democracy does not exist.

Until Turkey can guarantee key principles of a democracy, it should not be allowed to join the European Union. In addition, Turkey needs to abide by international law in its dealings with its neighbors. Turkey continues the illegal blockade of Armenia. It refuses entrance of goods from Cyprus to its ports.

Mr. Speaker, the Turkish Prime Minister is expected to visit with President Bush sometime in early October, in the next few weeks. In light of these latest events, in light of the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, I would encourage the Bush administration to insist that Turkey clean up its act, both with regard to suppression of the rights of its own citizens, and illegal and aggressive acts against its neighboring countries.

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