Tweet
SENTENCE EXTENDED FOR TURKISH-ARMENIAN INTELLECTUAL
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Dec 5 2014
Turkish-Armenian author Sevan NiÅ~_anyan waves outside of Torbalı
prison. (Photo: DHA)
December 05, 2014, Friday/ 18:45:18/ TODAY'S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL
Sevan NiÅ~_anyan, who is currently incarcerated in Aydın Yenipazar
Prison, was sentenced to a total of 11 years, eight months by the
2nd Selcuk Criminal Court on Thursday.
In March a sentence that NiÅ~_anyan was given of five years, two
months and 15 days in addition to a TL 12,600 fine was overturned
by the Supreme Court of Appeals, but this decision was sent to be
re-evaluated by a local court. He was then found guilty and imprisoned
as he was found in violation of Law No. 2863, the Law on Protection of
Cultural and Natural Heritage, by "deliberately causing harm to the
protection of immovable cultural heritage." The rationale behind the
sentence was his building of an addition to his home in the Aegean
village of Å~^irince contrary to the Cultural and Natural Heritage
Protection Act (KTVKK).
NiÅ~_anyan's attorney, Murat Akcı, has said the sentence is going
to be appealed, according to the Armenian newspaper Agos.
According to the Agos report, Akcı claims that they were not even
aware of the number of cases brought against his client because those
who are found guilty of crimes by the Conservation District Board
Office do not receive notifications of the judgment. "Therefore,
one does not have knowledge of what crime you have committed when
you are sentenced," according to Akcı.
NiÅ~_anyan is known for his outspokenness against the government. It
is widely believed that the intellectual is being sentenced to prison
for the addition to his home as an excuse, rather than an actual
crime being committed.
According to an article on the Al-Monitor news website, NiÅ~_anyan
expressed the following sentiments to Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal,
saying: "All my life -- with my books, with my work in the village --
I tried to do something good for the people. What did I get in return?
>From the state, I always got suspicion, enmity and despotism. I always
had to deal with ethnic and political prejudices, with disrespect and
contempt. Five governments, eight sub-governors -- [I] don't know
how many ministers and governors changed. Every once in a while,
we get a couple of decent people and high hopes. But in the end,
nothing changes."
http://www.todayszaman.com/national_sentence-extended-for-turkish-armenian-intellectual_366215.html
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Dec 5 2014
Turkish-Armenian author Sevan NiÅ~_anyan waves outside of Torbalı
prison. (Photo: DHA)
December 05, 2014, Friday/ 18:45:18/ TODAY'S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL
Sevan NiÅ~_anyan, who is currently incarcerated in Aydın Yenipazar
Prison, was sentenced to a total of 11 years, eight months by the
2nd Selcuk Criminal Court on Thursday.
In March a sentence that NiÅ~_anyan was given of five years, two
months and 15 days in addition to a TL 12,600 fine was overturned
by the Supreme Court of Appeals, but this decision was sent to be
re-evaluated by a local court. He was then found guilty and imprisoned
as he was found in violation of Law No. 2863, the Law on Protection of
Cultural and Natural Heritage, by "deliberately causing harm to the
protection of immovable cultural heritage." The rationale behind the
sentence was his building of an addition to his home in the Aegean
village of Å~^irince contrary to the Cultural and Natural Heritage
Protection Act (KTVKK).
NiÅ~_anyan's attorney, Murat Akcı, has said the sentence is going
to be appealed, according to the Armenian newspaper Agos.
According to the Agos report, Akcı claims that they were not even
aware of the number of cases brought against his client because those
who are found guilty of crimes by the Conservation District Board
Office do not receive notifications of the judgment. "Therefore,
one does not have knowledge of what crime you have committed when
you are sentenced," according to Akcı.
NiÅ~_anyan is known for his outspokenness against the government. It
is widely believed that the intellectual is being sentenced to prison
for the addition to his home as an excuse, rather than an actual
crime being committed.
According to an article on the Al-Monitor news website, NiÅ~_anyan
expressed the following sentiments to Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal,
saying: "All my life -- with my books, with my work in the village --
I tried to do something good for the people. What did I get in return?
>From the state, I always got suspicion, enmity and despotism. I always
had to deal with ethnic and political prejudices, with disrespect and
contempt. Five governments, eight sub-governors -- [I] don't know
how many ministers and governors changed. Every once in a while,
we get a couple of decent people and high hopes. But in the end,
nothing changes."
http://www.todayszaman.com/national_sentence-extended-for-turkish-armenian-intellectual_366215.html