Article 301

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Article 301 revised and ready for debate

 

Preparations to amend the controversial Article 301 of the Penal Code are complete and the government will soon submit it to Parliament as a bill, the justice minister said over the weekend, the Turkish Daily News reports.

 

Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Şahin said a commission had formulated the new version of the article, which penalizes insulting Turkishness, the judiciary and state organs. Şahin said the Justice Ministry had also contributed to the amending of the bill.

 

Many journalists and writers have been prosecuted under Article 301 and the European Union has called on Turkey to revise the article, arguing that it harms freedom of expression.

 

The government, which has promised to initiate serious reforms this year to facilitate Turkey's EU accession, is expected to make the necessary amendments to the article.

 

When asked about the criticisms concerning the slow pace of the Hrant Dink murder trial, Şahin said such cases seldom ended quickly and asked for patience.

 

Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 and was found guilty of insulting Turkishness. He received a six-month suspended sentence. Dink was murdered on Jan. 19, 2007. The suspected murderer is a nationalist teenager.

 

Public Radio of Armenia

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Reps. Pallone and Royce call on Turkey to Abolish Article 301

 

Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus Member Representative Ed Royce (R-CA) called on Turkey to honor the memory of journalist and human rights activist Hrant Dink by repealing Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, the Armenian Assembly of America reports.

 

In separate remarks on the House floor, both lawmakers commemorated the first anniversary of Dink's assassination on an Istanbul street in broad daylight on January 19, 2007. Before his murder, Dink was awaiting trial for allegedly violating Article 301 which outlaws "insulting Turkishness," for his writings on the Armenian Genocide.

 

Pallone noted that Turkey continues to persecute and incarcerate people for exercising their universal right of freedom of speech.

 

"Turkey uses intimidation to deny its citizens their right to freedom of expression," Pallone stated. "It lobbies for its so-called rightful role in the international community and a place in the European Union. Yet it does not live up to democratic principles and standards."

 

"It is my sincere hope that the Turkish government will use this occasion to reflect upon this restrictive article and rescind it before it does more harm," said Royce.

 

Congressman Royce signed on yesterday as a cosponsor of the resolution condemning the assassination of Hrant Dink, H. Res. 102.

 

"We appreciate the efforts of Congressmen Pallone and Royce in bringing this important issue to the forefront of Congress," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "It is vital that America demonstrates its commitment to human rights, and fundamental freedoms to the rest of the world."

 

Public Radio of Armenia