Reactions are growing in number at the European Youth Parliament, regarding the trial of the Turkish publisher of US intellectual Noam Chomsky. The publisher is being arraigned at an Istanbul court on the 13th, facing charges of propaganda for secession supporters. The “crime” of Fatih Tas of “Aram” Publications, who is in danger of being imprisoned within the year, is publishing a Noam Chomsky book, which mentions the oppression of the Kurds, and military operations against the Kurdish population in Southeast Turkey. 

After submitting a draft, EuroMP of the Coalition of the Left, Michalis Papayannakis and EuroMP of PASOK, Myrsini Zorba, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the European Parliament, Michel Rocar, asking him to examine the possibility of members of the Cultural Committee being sent to Istanbul as observers at the trial. 

The EuroMP of PASOK also asked Mr.Rocar and the members of the Committee to “join their voices of protest, which can be heard all over the world”, reminding them of Turkey's commitment to the European Union to review its laws on freedom of expression by March 19, 2002. 

It should be noted that Noam Chomsky and his Turkish publisher are the latest victims of Turkish censorship, while confiscation of books by many famous authors, among which is “Impressions from Kurdistan”, by a journalist of the Washington post has happened before. In conclusion, Mrs. Zorba, in letters to Mr. Chomsky and Mr. Tas, expressed her personal support and informed them of the European Council's actions.