[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H7351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TURKISH PENAL CODE--ELIF SHAFAK'S TRIAL

  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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