Journalists Acquitted on Insulting Ataturk

Her last book on Ataturk's partnet "Latife Hanim", Calislar quoted a story where he escapes a murder attempt going undercover in a veil.

Calislar voiced this story in an interview in Hurriyet newspaper, which resulted in the case in question. Newspaper's editor Necdet Tatlican also escaped conviction in the same case.

During yesterday's sitting the judge ruled that the legal components of the alleged crime didn't realize.

"I understand from the prosecutor's argument that women and men aren't seen as equals" commented Calislar following her acquittal.

"Ataturk going undercover in a woman's dress is seen as an insult. But as a woman, I find this approach a little strange. It's evidence that the prosecutor discriminates against women".

She told the court that her work is a biography and she wouldn't premeditate to insult Ataturk in quoting Latife Hanim's life story.

Calislar noted that historians would challenge her story, taken from the memoirs of Latife's sister.

The story

Calislar's book on Ataturk's partner Latife got published in the summer and became very popular.

At one point in the book, Calislar quotes a historically known story:

When Topal Osman surrounds Mustafa Kemal's house in Cankaya to murder him, Latife Hanim takes his place to trick Osman while Ataturk flees the house.

Latife wears his hat and stands in front of the window, mimicking his silhouette and Mustafa Kemal dresses in a black scarf and in garb, leaves the house while pretending to be a woman. Later, in interviews with the press, the same anecdote was mentioned and published which led primarily to individual complaints that sparked off investigations. (AO/EU)