Red Alert on Shafak Case
Concern has mounted over the possibility of the so-called Kerincsiz group, responsible for the original criminal complaint against Shafak for her best-seller novel "Father and Bastard" that stands trial under article 301, stirring up trouble before and during the hearing and obstructing the court.
In some circles there is fear the group may result to physical protest and violence as in previous cases involving Turkish intellectuals recognized for their work and contributions in the West.
"Western imperialism, in its struggle to force the Sevres (Treaty) on Turkey again, has chosen to use Orhan Pamuk, Hrant Dink, Perihan Magden, Murat Belge, Hasan Cemal and those like them through idolizing them" a statement issued by the Kerincsiz-linked group said earlier this week.
"The new princess selected by the ethnic minority supporters, the separatists, EU and USA followers, treaty intellectuals, is Elif Shafak" it claimed, referring to enemies of Turkey and making them pay in front of justice.
Shafak, who last week gave birth in America and is on maternity rest will not attend the hearing although publisher Semih Sokmen, representing the Metis Publishing House that printed the best-seller will be there together with dozens of others in support and against expected to turn up.
In reference to past acts of disruption in the form of protests and physical attacks staged by attorney Kerincsiz and those around them, Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD) has issued a statement asking authorities to give a conclusive end to "the show of violence during hearings" and appealed to everyone to be present at Thursday's trial to show solidarity to Shafak.
The IHD appeal follows a statement along the same lines made earlier this week by the Contemporary Journalists Association (CGD) and warned that unless a show of violence at court could be prevented "those public officials who have failed to use their authority will be as responsible as those supporting violence for the grave developments that could take place".
The Peace Initiative of Turkey and the Citizens' Initiative have also issued statements on the case in which they stated that Kerincsiz and his group were in preparation to obstruct justice in Thursday's hearing and appealed to prosecutors to take preventative action. Their statement constituted a criminal complaint against the Union of Jurists, now dubbed the "Grand Union of Jurists" with a claim that this group under the influence of Kerincsiz and those around him was involved in outlawed activities.
Concern before trial
Shafak's case will be heard at the Beyoglu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.30 in the morning and both those supporting her and the Kerincsiz group opposing have so far issued public appeals calling on followers to turn up at the Beyoglu Justice Hall.
The rightwing jurists have in their statement called on everyone to fulfill a "National Duty" on the day of the trial saying "the time has come to say stop to the enemies of Turks on legitimate grounds. We invite everyone to the Beyoglu Justice Hall under the slogan 'invitation to national duty' to make the enemies of Turks pay in the field of justice for swearing at and insulting the Turkish nation".
References such as "making them pay" have raised concerns that tension will hit the case as in the examples of the previous trials of writers and journalists such as Orhan Pamuk, Hrant Dink, Perihan Magden, Murat Belge and Hasan Cemal where the so-called Jurists Union was involved.
Shafak Case at a Glance
Jurists Union leading member Kemal Kerincsiz's first complaint against the book led to a dismissal of proceedings on June 7 after which he appealed to the High Criminal Court.
The 7th High Criminal Court then returned the previous decision asking the court to evaluate the offensive content of what had been written, reviving proceedings against Shafak, Sokmen and the book's translator Asli Bicen
After publisher Sokmen appealed on grounds that "a published cannot be subjected to trial for a work whose author could be identified" proceedings where dismissed against him and the translator. Beyoglu Public Prosecutor Mustafa Erol, charged only Shafak under article 301/1 in his July 24 dated indictment.
"Father and Bastard" who was published on 8 March this year is already on the bestseller list and the book is sold in Turkey. Originally written in English, the book is in the publishing schedule of Viking/Penguin publishing house.
Elif Safak, a Turkish citizen, was born in France and spent her childhood in Spain. After studying political science in Turkey, she held teaching positions in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United States and then took the position of Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Near Eastern Studies at University of Arizona.
Her publications include both novels and essays, among them The Saint of Incipient Insanities, which was her first book published in English, Bit Palas, Mahrem, which won the Turkish Writers' Association Best Novel of the Year Award, and Sehrin Aynalari. She has also published reviews in The Economist, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. (EO/TK/II/YE)