Around fifty academics, artists and activists have expressed their support for
DTP MP Türk, whose parliamentarian immunity is threatened. International support
came from Chomsky and PEN.
Bıa news centre
Jan 10, 20008
Tolga KORKUT
Academics, writers, artists, lawyers, political scientists and
members of the Peace Initiative have expressed their support for Ahmet Türk, the
Mardin MP for the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).
Not invited to reception
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecution is preparing a report in order to lift
Türk's parliamentarian immunity for something Ahmet Türk said to the press.
When the General Staff of the Turkish Army held a reception on 30 August, the
Victory Holiday, and pointedly did not invite the MPs of the Diplomatic Society
Party, Türk had said:
"It has become clear who is really being separatist, a word which they use
continuously."
Statement of support
The intellectuals have now released a common statement, saying:
"We are worried that hte report which the Ankara Chief Public Prosecution is
preparing in order to lift the immunity of DTP MP Ahmet Türk will open new
chasms in our democracy and deepen the cracks in our social structure."
"The report is based on Ahmet Türk's utterance when he was asked insistent
questions after the DTP MPs were not invited to the General Staff's 30 August
Victory Day reception. He said, 'It has become clear who is really being
separatist, a word which they use continuously.'"
"We take part in this 'crime'"
"We also believe that it is discrimination that the MPs of a party which entered
parliament with around 2 million votes and in democratic elections were not
invited to the 30 August (reception), and that Türk was expressing that point.
We believe that Türk's utterance does not represent a crime in terms of the
freedom of thought and expression, and that there should be no institution in
this country which cannot be criticised."
"In a country which claims to be ruled by law, Ahmet Türk's words cannot
represent a crime. If they are nevertheless considered a crime, then we announce
that we take part in this 'crime'."
The undersigned included professors Baskin Oran, Murat Belge, Ahmet Insel,
Ibrahim Kaboglu and Gencay Gürsoy, journalists and writers such as Ali
Bayramoglu, Etyen Mahcupiyan, Ömer Laciner, Aydin Engin, and Oya Baydar.
International support
There were international messages of support from American linguist and writer
Noam Chomsky and International Writers' Union (PEN) secretary Eugene Schoulgin.
Chomsky said in his message, "I congratulate Türk on openly objecting to the
discrimination." He added that he found it "surprising that the basic right of
using one's freedom of expression should be punished." Chomsky further expressed
his admiration for the support Türk was receiving in Turkey.
Schoulgin wrote that the procedure initiated against Türk showed how little the
higher level of the judiciary understood the freedom of expression and
democracy. At a time when there were attempts to carry out reforms in modern
Turkey, this kind of decision was demoralising, he added.
