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TURKISH CULTURE MINISTER PRAISES PUBLISHER RAGIP ZARAKOLU
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 3, 2011 - 11:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay has
praised prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu who was arrested for
alleged links to an outlawed organization.
"[Zarakolu] is a valuable publisher and writer," Gunay told journalists
when asked about his reaction to the arrest, Hurriyet daily News
reported.
Zarakolu, along with Professor BuÅ~_ra Ersanlı and 42 other suspects,
was arrested in Istanbul on Tuesday for his alleged involvement with
the outlawed Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged urban
wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"I have known him since my school years. Of course, I do not know
the reason for the arrest warrant. Frankly, I would like to learn
because I never heard about his involvement with any act of violence
until now," Gunay said.
While testifying in court, Zarakolu said all the accusations directed
against him concerned his intellectual activities.
"My actions are aimed at presenting my own contributions to find
a solution for a problem that has been going on for years. To this
effect, I am also invited this evening to an international meeting
that will take place with the culture and tourism minister as host,"
Zarakolu said.
Zarakolu is the head of the Turkish Publishers' Union's Committee
for the Freedom of Publishing, as well as the recipient of numerous
prestigious awards pertaining to the freedom of expression.
"These documents include various book drafts. My activities that are
the subject of the accusations are entirely intellectual activities,"
Zarakolu said about the documents that were seized from his flat by
law enforcement officials.
"A worthy publisher and writer. What are the allegations about this
friend of ours? As the public, we also have the right to know,"
Gunay said.
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 3, 2011 - 11:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay has
praised prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu who was arrested for
alleged links to an outlawed organization.
"[Zarakolu] is a valuable publisher and writer," Gunay told journalists
when asked about his reaction to the arrest, Hurriyet daily News
reported.
Zarakolu, along with Professor BuÅ~_ra Ersanlı and 42 other suspects,
was arrested in Istanbul on Tuesday for his alleged involvement with
the outlawed Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged urban
wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"I have known him since my school years. Of course, I do not know
the reason for the arrest warrant. Frankly, I would like to learn
because I never heard about his involvement with any act of violence
until now," Gunay said.
While testifying in court, Zarakolu said all the accusations directed
against him concerned his intellectual activities.
"My actions are aimed at presenting my own contributions to find
a solution for a problem that has been going on for years. To this
effect, I am also invited this evening to an international meeting
that will take place with the culture and tourism minister as host,"
Zarakolu said.
Zarakolu is the head of the Turkish Publishers' Union's Committee
for the Freedom of Publishing, as well as the recipient of numerous
prestigious awards pertaining to the freedom of expression.
"These documents include various book drafts. My activities that are
the subject of the accusations are entirely intellectual activities,"
Zarakolu said about the documents that were seized from his flat by
law enforcement officials.
"A worthy publisher and writer. What are the allegations about this
friend of ours? As the public, we also have the right to know,"
Gunay said.