Drop Charges Against Orhan Pamuk

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    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
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Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom. Benjamin Cardozo
In February, Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk will stand trial for "insulting" Turkish national identity, a violation of Article 301 of Turkey's criminal code. If convicted, Pamuk faces three years in prisonsimply for daring to speak about the Armenian genocide and the Kurds.

We urge you to drop all charges against Pamuk and others who face prosecution for nothing other than speaking their minds. Article 301 is an abomination, a sign of national weakness, and it should be removed from the Turkish criminal code.

Free speech is the life-blood of civil society. Until there is freedom of expression in Turkey, there will be no true freedom at all.

11 Signatures

  • Pete Blackwell
    • Comments
    • В
  • David Nelson
    • Comments
    • This statute is an abomination, particularly when used against those discussing matters of fact, no matter how embarassing or uncomfortable certain aspects of a nation's past may be. Each nation has many shameful incidents in its past, and surpressing discussion of them is nothing more than an invitation for similar mistakes to be made in the future.
  • S. Kendzior
    • Comments
    • В
  • Kathrine S. H. Jensen
    • Comments
    • It is necessary to create debate and to be able to address even sensitive issues.
  • Anita Ulrich
  • Marie Stegger Sшrensen
  • George Potts
  • Aiven Andrians
  • Simone Maggiolo
  • Miguel Angel Nalpatian
    • Comments
    • Debe Ser Abolido Y Repudiado Por El Concierto Mundial De Naciones Y Organizaciones De Derechos Humanos, El Inhumano Art. Penal 301.-
  • Allison Bocksruker
    • Comments
    • Turkey is supposed to be a civilized nation. Start acting like one.