January 20th 2007… The morrow of
the ignoble killing of Hrant Dink. Temel Demirer is talking during a
demonstration organized in Ankara in protest of the murder: “Hrant was not
slain for being an Armenian. He was murdered because he had the courage to talk
openly about the Armenian genocide. This state is guilty of genocide. This
state is a criminal. It killed Hrant. To be silent is to take part in this
crime. I am calling all of you to commit the crime of violating the 301th
article of the Turkish penal code…”
What followed is not unexpected. A
suit was brought against Demirer with the charge of having violated the
articles 301/2 and 216 of the Turkish
Penal Code. The charge is well-known: “Insulting
Turkishness” and “stating opinion against the official
Turkish version of history” …
As is known, the case which lasted six years,
and which has become all the more complicated with the palliative
rectifications of the party in power, ended in a “conditional postponement of
penalty” as was anticipated in the “third package of amendment of the judicial
regime”, against all the objections of Demirer and his defenders who were
claiming “either condemnation or acquittal”.
The case was suspended with the condition that the culprit refrain from
committing the same “crime” for three years!
But this show of “magnanimous
forgiveness” would not last long. Temel Demirer, in leaving the courtroom,
voiced the same opinions at the front door of the Palace of Justice and claimed
his “crime”. A new investigation would
not delay…
It is highly probable that Temel
Demirer will again be brought in front of the tribune as a “criminal of
conscioussness”. This event provides us
all with a new opportunity to ponder upon and decipher the opportunistic stance
of the party in power regarding the “official ideology” and “the freedom of
thought and expression”. The political power of advanced democracy is revealing
its non-abdication of the official ideology to which it strives to create the
image of being opposed; its determination to continue to wave the “crime of
conscioussness” on top of its opponents as the sword of Democles. The mere
pronounciation of the Armenian genocide reveals the limits of the “democratic
openings”…
The Ankara Initiative for Freedom
of Thought, The Green and Left Future Party and the Committee of Freedom of
Publishing of PEN are organizing a meeting to discuss these topics. Ragıp
Zarakolu, Vangelis Kechriotis and Sait Çetinoğlu will take the floor in the
meeting at which Temel Demirer will be a guest.
All those sensitive to “freedom
of thought and expression” are invited.
Meeting date: 1.4.2013
Time:18.00
Meeting place: Cezayir Konferans Salonu
Address: Hayriye cad. no: 16
Galatasaray/İstanbul
Time:18.00
Meeting place: Cezayir Konferans Salonu
Address: Hayriye cad. no: 16
Galatasaray/İstanbul
