freedomforragip
2012 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee publisher Ragıp Zarakolu spent close to 6 months in a F-type high security prison between 1 Nov. 2011 and 10 April 2012. The prosecutor has demanded between 7.5 and 15 years in prison for Ragıp. This IPA Freedom to Publish Committee blog aims at shedding light on his case and urges the Turkish authorities to drop all charges against him.
Latest News
2 July 2012 – Freedom to Publish Trial Opens in Turkey – IPA Observers Call for Acquittal of Publisher Zarakolu – Van of PEN & IPA Observers Robbed During Trial, preventing them from attending the Press Conference organised by the Turkish Publishers Association (TPA/TYB) at 4 p.m. on 2 July.
10 April – Publisher & Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Zarakolu Freed Pending Trial
20 March – Nobel Peace Prize Candidate is Facing up to 15 Years in Jail
On 19 March 2012, Istanbul Public Prosecutor Adnan Çimen issued an indictment charging Professor Ersanlı with ‘leading an illegal organisation’ and publisher Zarakolu with ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organization’. The prosecutor has demanded between 15 and 22.5 years for Ersanlı and 7.5 and 15 years for Zarakolu. The 2,400-page indictment was sent to the Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court and includes a total of 193 defendants, 147 of whom are currently under detention.
15 March – Publishers, Writers, Translators and Journalists Join Forces to Defend Freedom of Expression in Istanbul – William Nygaard & Eugene Schoulgin Represent IPA & PEN International
6 March – This year’s Duygu Asena Women Writers Award of PEN Turkey Goes to Busra Ersanli and Ayse Berktay
27 Feb. – In Solidarity with Arrested Publisher Zarakolu
15 Feb. – Zarakolu Gets Support for his Nobel Nomination
14 Feb. – Zarakolu to Apply to European Court of Human Rights
3 Feb. – Paul Auster Hits Back at Prime Minister Erdogan
