Cyprus-Forum.com

[CopperLine]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7081747.stm

Turkey moves to change speech law

The Turkish government says it will change a controversial law restricting freedom of expression.
Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before the Turkish parliament in the coming days.

The law, known as Article 301, bans perceived insults to Turkish identity or the country's institutions.

It has often been invoked by nationalists against those who argue the Ottoman empire committed genocide against Armenians.

Earlier on Tuesday the European Commission said restrictions on freedom of expression were blocking Turkey's progress towards EU membership.

"It is not acceptable that writers, journalists, academics and other intellectuals... are prosecuted for simply expressing a critical but completely non-violent opinion," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.

"The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay," he added.

Nobel-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink were both prosecuted under the law for their comments on the mass killings of Armenians.

Hrant Dink was shot dead outside his Istanbul office in January 2007 and his murder revived a debate about the law.

Many said his prosecution under Article 301 made him a target for radical nationalists.

[phoenix]

I'll believe it when I see it!

I only checked this thread out to see if the Turks had blown themselves up . . . for me at the moment, that would be the only "Good News from Turkey"!

[CopperLine]

Phoenix,
Yawn ... seems that you're as much a bore as you are a bigot.

[Eliko]

Repealed, amended or dispensed with, I still wouldn't fancy my chances uttering anything which might be interpreted as a criticism of the Turkish nation.

As an old sea-dog, I'd consider that a case of sailing a bit too close to the wind.

[CopperLine]

Eliko,
Agreed.

[miltiades]

It will be a great achievement by the Turkish government to repeal such an outdated and utterly undemocratic law.
Turkey can only benefit by binning this anachronistic article. I offer my congratulations in advance.

[pantheman]

Phoenix,
Yawn ... seems that you're as much a bore as you are a bigot.

Copperline,

pheonix has a point, I wouldn't trust your country given its recent performance.

To you people are only bigots when they don't go along with YOUR ideas.

Just give us a break, this is just bullshit talk again from Turkey in an attempt to make herself look good in front of the international community, make it look like she is doing something positive, ha ha ha. Bloody good joke though and I wouldn't hold my breath.

I ask you, mr clever dick, where have they honoured the 8 july agreement? Where have they honoured the Customs union agreement ? Where have they honoured the countless judgements against them ?

Exactly, no where, so why should we believe you or your country when she is just spreading more propaganda again, and again and again?

Turkey, same old, same old.

[zan]

I saw an entire program in which the American public were shit scared to say anything against the Us after 9/11. I am glad they are changing the law and it had to happen....

[Get Real!]

How fascinating that a dedicated thread has been initiated to discuss if an EU candidate has approached freedom of speech by a millimeter in the year 2007!

Now where did I put those Harold Lloyd movies?

[zan]

How fascinating that a dedicated thread has been initiated to discuss if an EU candidate has approached freedom of speech by a millimeter in the year 2007!

Now where did I put those Harold Lloyd movies?

I did once read that all GCs cry "democracy" the second they pop out of the womb and hit the ground.....Fascinating...