PM Discussing 301 With Wrong People

Coming together with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan a few days ago in the wake of a consultative meeting last week, representatives of employers' unions and a group of trade unions have failed to produce a multiparty draft proposing amendments to Turkey's controversial Penal Code article 301.

The failure has prompted the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey(TIHV), Initiative for Freedom of Expression and other civil society organizations to issue statements stressing that the PM is seeking discussions with the wrong people and on the wrong platform.

In the words of Contemporary Jurists Association (CHD) Chair Huseyin Y. Bicen, "Just as it was the case at the preparatory phase of the Turkish Penal Code, the Anti-Terror Law and the criminal proceeding laws, 301 is also being discussed on the wrong platform and with the wrong people".

Yurdatapan: The address should be law and human rights circles

Initiative for Freedom of Expression spokesperson Sanar Yurdatapan said, "If the government is going to consult with the civil society on an issue, it should meet with the NGOs working on that issue. Whereas when one mentions NGOs, they regard it as the TUSIAD, TISK and the unions only to be polite".

Referring to article 301 covering offences of "denigration" of Turkishness, the state and republic, Yurdatapan said "The punishment of such an insult should at the most be shamed by the society and not being taken seriously. It should not be a trial and imprisoned".

Yurdatapan said he believed not only article 301 but articles 299 and 300 of the Penal Code should also be abolished.

Onen: We want to work together

TIHV Executive Board Chair Yavuz Onen meanwhile sent a letter to Prime Minister Erdogan expressing "a desire to work together with the government" on this issue.

Onen said in his letter, "Our organization that has an important accumulation of data on the issue of human rights would like to emphasize once more that it will support all steps to be taken for the democratization of Turkey and that it is open to all kinds of discussions".

Amendments expected

Following PM Erdogan's recent meeting with trade and employers union representatives where he was quoted as welcoming any proposal on amendments to article 301 from these circles, an effort was made over the weekend to draw a multiparty draft to submit to the government.

No draft came out of a scheduled meeting but it has been reported the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is looking for possible amendments to the controversial article, primarily to deal with its ambiguity.

The target, reportedly, is to narrow down the scope of the law where anyone can be put on trial for "denigrating Turkishness" which is regarded as a too general concept.

Under discussion is the possibility of changing the term to "denigrating the Turkish nation". (EO/TK/II/EU)

(*) Ugur Biryol has contributed to this news report.