12th September on Trial Acquitted

Who was tried, where, when? Ragip Zarakolu, owner of the Belge Publishing House, Istanbul State Security Court No.3, December, 3rd, 2003

Which article? Turkish Penal Code, Article 312. Imprisonment was demanded up to 2 years.

What was his crime? Publishing the book titled "12 of September on Trial" written by Dr. Gazi Çağlar.

What was the book about? Records of a tribunal in Hannover/Germany, 1988, where 12. September 1980 regime was tried.

Who were the guests? Alex.Krikorian (General Secretary of International. Publishers' Association), Kjell O. Jensen (Pres. of Norvegian PEN)

What is the result? Prosecuter demanded acquittal, judges agreed. Zarakolu was acquitted.

But then Zarakolu has found out that he had another case for an article he wrote for pro-Kurdish Yeniden Ozgur Gundem daily. That case goes on.

Can we say that "Thought" is free in Turkey now? No comment. (SY/NM)