Kurdistan Observer

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing to express my deep dismay at the manner in which USA Immigration Service treated former prisoner of opinion Dr Haluk Gerger when he arrived at NY Newark airport on 1st of October, 2002.

It is very galling for those who are struggling to establish freedom of expression in Turkey, to see the United States, constitutionally committed to free speech, behave in such a peremptory manner to an individual who has sacrificed his academic position and even his own liberty because he was not afraid to speak out.

In the 1995 State Department Report on Human Rights Practices, the imprisonment of Haluk Gerger was shown as an example of Turkey's lack of respect for civil liberties.

His treatment as persona non grata in 2002 makes us wonder if the United States is now endorsing the Turkish state's restrictions on freedom of expression, or whether the Interior Department does not bother to read Department of State human rights reports.

The incident was reported by the Brussels based Info-Turk agency as follows:

Scientist Haluk Gerger not allowed to the USA though he had a 10-year visa!

Anti-terror hysteria now takes as target not only "Islamist terror" suspects, but also secular human rights defenders who can never be labeled as "terrorist" or "Islamist". This is the case for famous political scientist Dr. Haluk Gerger of Turkey.

On October 1st, Gerger and his wife flew to the USA. At New York (Newark) airport he was stopped and told that his visa, issued in 1999 for a period of 10 years, had been cancelled by the State Department.

Taking no heed of his objections, US officers immediately sent back the couple to Munich abroad the same plane after having shot his photos and taken fingerprints.

Gerger is among a number of social scientists in Turkey who have been prosecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression. A former assistant professor at the University of Ankara, Dr. Gerger is a well-known intellectual and a respected writer on nuclear weapons and strategy.

He was educated at the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies(SAIS) of John Hopkins University in Washington, DC, Stockholm University in Sweden, and Herford College in Oxford, England.

Following the 1980 military coup, Dr. Gerger was one of the authors of the "Intellectuals' Petition" criticizing the military's actions, which was addressed to the head of the military junta. A military court acquitted Dr. Gerger of any charges related to the petition; however, he was among hundreds of professors fired when the university system was restructured in 1982.

A founding member of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD), Dr. Gerger is an ardent defender of Kurdish rights. He has written extensively on the issue and has criticized governmental policies. He has likened the Turkish government's treatment of the Kurds to Serbia's ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Bosnia. He has been imprisoned and heavily fined by Turkish courts for writing letters and articles expressing his political opinions.

Upon his release from prison, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) honored Dr. Gerger during its 1996 Annual Meeting in recognition of the contribution he has made, through both action and example, to the promotion and protection of human rights in Turkey.

At this meeting,. Dr. Gerger spoke passionately about the violence and human rights violations occurring in the southeast of Turkey. He urged scientists to "exert pressure on both the government of the United States and Turkey on behalf of peace, freedom, and respect for human rights," and added that, "these are all values very much relevant to, or rather, preconditions for scientific endeavor."

Same year, Dr. Gerger was also one of the recipients of the Hellman/Hammett grants awarded by Human Rights Watch to writers around the world whose books have been banned or who have been exiled, imprisoned, tortured, or harassed because of their work.

After the refusal of his entrance to the USA, Dr. Gerger stated that this treatment was part of the 11 September syndrome, but cannot prevent him from defending human rights and fighting
against the USA's belligerent policies.

Now, I have been invited as a guest of Human Rights Watch to take part in meetings in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco from 9-23 November, and I have a few but very direct and clear questions:

1. What is the excuse for this treatment? Does US administration consider Dr Gerger a "terrorist"?. Does it now accept the definition of terrorism contained in Turkey's Anti-Terror Law, which the State Department report noted is "used frequently to limit freedom of expression." Dr. Gerger served a twenty month sentence under this wretched law. Is insult to be added to his injury?

2. If so, I need to know now whether I can expect the same fate when I arrive in the USA as Human Rights Watch's guest. You will understand that I would rather know now, before I set out across the Atlantic.

3. I have already asked Human Rights Watch to cancel my proposed meetings with State administration. I am also ready to cancel my whole trip if this is not a terrible mistake and the same treatment awaits me in USA.

I hope that this nightmare was nothing but a mistake and you will apologize to Dr. Gerger, for this disgraceful treatment.

Sincerely yours,
Zeki Kentel

-Zeki Kentel Hurses Columnist zkentel@netone.com.tr