In a 6 April 2000 letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, ARTICLE 19 referred to the legislation dealing with artistic and intellectual works which is currently being discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. ARTICLE 19 was informed that the new law, which replaces the previous law No. 5846 of 5 December 1951, was recently […]
In a 6 April 2000 letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, ARTICLE 19 referred to the legislation dealing with artistic and intellectual works which is currently being discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. ARTICLE 19 was informed that the new law, which replaces the previous law No. 5846 of 5 December 1951, was recently passed by the Culture and Education Committee of the parliament and now awaits full parliamentary approval. The organisation understands that the new law requires publishers after printing to apply for an official sticker from the Minister of Culture which must then be affixed to each copy before sale. Moreover, the measure not only applies to books but also to video-cassettes and the like. Reportedly, bookshops and other outlets which sell such merchandise without these official stickers face possible closure and heavy penalties.
ARTICLE 19 is concerned that this bureaucratic procedure, which runs counter to European norms, allows for the possibility of censorship should the Ministry of Culture decide to withhold or unduly delay approval. ARTICLE 19 has urged successive Turkish governments to bring those of Turkey’s laws which are currently used to penalise free expression into line with European standards, and feels that this new procedure adds yet another potential obstacle to freedom of expression in Turkey.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister
– urging his government to review this new legislation in the light of European norms and to not enact it
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 417 0476
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
