Turkish intellectual sentenced for criticising Atatürk
by Jura Watchmaker, 29 January 2008
Liberal political scientist Atilla Yayla has been sentenced in absentia by a Turkish court to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Professor Yayla was in 2006 charged with insulting the legacy of Kemal Atatürk. The academic’s ‘crime’ was to point out that the early years of the Turkish republic under the revered leader were not as progressive as the official history suggests.
“I want to emphasise again and again that Turkey’s most pressing problem is freedom of expression.” [Atilla Yayla]
So, for criticising Kemalist ideology as illiberal, Yayla has been threatened with prison. As they say, you couldn’t make it up.
Turkey in the EU? Not yet, thanks.
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 1:29
Turkey shouldn’t be let into the EU because of the endemic racism, and absolute oppression of their Kurdish population. More important than a single academic having his ‘free speech’ suppressed. Although, saying that, it’s not a competition of hierarchical grievances.
Fuck Turkey! Fuck their Islamist-Lite junta of a government!
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 1:49
Just remember that our Government wants to make ‘holocaust denial’ a crime.
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 7:51
[Racist drivel deleted – author is hereby banned.]
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 9:15
The last comment has a distinct whiff of Swedish racism about it.
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 10:24
Unfortunately Poland is already in the EU. Double standards?
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&refer=home&sid=aPq9zyU5Yt00
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number5.18/google-bombing-poland-president
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 10:40
Double standards? Maybe, on the part of those politicians who welcomed Poland into the union with open arms. But as Turkey remains outwith the EU, but wants in, we have some leverage when it comes to the country’s human rights practice.
That said, I agree also with Will that the ‘Kurdish question’ is another major impediment to Turkey’s acceptance as a civilised state.
Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 11:14
Distinct whiff? A choking stench more like. His IP address is Swedish (good spot), and the muppet styles himself ‘race warrior’. Delete.
Thursday 31 January 2008 at 13:27
Is it not ironic that Attaturk’s whole career was dedicated to making Turkey secular & European. (Doubly ironic that he himself could be quite totalitarian in pursuit of this).
Thursday 31 January 2008 at 20:59
Of note:
Turkey arrests 13 in plot to kill writer Orhan Pamuk.
Thursday 31 January 2008 at 21:19
Those arrested included a retired army general and a lawyer. Pillars of the Turkish establishment.