Turkey's penal code has an article designed to protect Turkey's national symbols and institutions from criticism. This provision has, ironically, lead to criticism of Turkey for interfering with Turkish citizen's freedom of expression. The criticism has been especially vocal in recent months because it is viewed as an impediment to Turkish membership in the EU, which Turkey is currently negotiating, and because of the trial of Turkey's best-known writer, Orhan Pamuk, for comments considered insulting to the Turkish army. While the Turkish government has not done anything to reform the law, a third source of criticism may finally break the government's intransigence. An MEP is being investigated for violating the law while visiting the country:
The Dutch green deputy Joost Lagendijk is reported to have said during a recent visit to Istanbul: "The military wants clashes with the PKK (Kurdish rebels). This makes it feel powerful and important," according to Reuters.
So disastrous would such a charge be for Turkish membership bid that Turkey's foreign minister has hinted Ankara might change the controversial rules:
Mr Gul indicated on Wednesday that the government could amend the article, arguing that laws are not untouchable and "can be amended if need be," according to AFP. "We cannot interfere with the courts, but we can monitor how laws are implemented and interpreted and whether that is the direction Turkey wants to take," he said.
Hopefully, this is another sign that Turkey will make the steps necessary to become a modern, liberal democracy.
Link: Turkey considers change to controversial law after MEP probed.
The Dutch green deputy Joost Lagendijk is reported to have said during a recent visit to Istanbul: "The military wants clashes with the PKK (Kurdish rebels). This makes it feel powerful and important," according to Reuters.
So disastrous would such a charge be for Turkish membership bid that Turkey's foreign minister has hinted Ankara might change the controversial rules:
Mr Gul indicated on Wednesday that the government could amend the article, arguing that laws are not untouchable and "can be amended if need be," according to AFP. "We cannot interfere with the courts, but we can monitor how laws are implemented and interpreted and whether that is the direction Turkey wants to take," he said.
Hopefully, this is another sign that Turkey will make the steps necessary to become a modern, liberal democracy.
Link: Turkey considers change to controversial law after MEP probed.
No comments:
Post a Comment