(Antenna-TR/IFEX) – A writer has been imprisoned over a book about women, and he and his publisher are also facing additional charges over the same book. Two sets of criminal charges were filed over the book “Language of Suffering: Woman”, written by Murat Coskun and published by Peri publishers in January 2002. One of the […]
(Antenna-TR/IFEX) – A writer has been imprisoned over a book about women, and he and his publisher are also facing additional charges over the same book. Two sets of criminal charges were filed over the book “Language of Suffering: Woman”, written by Murat Coskun and published by Peri publishers in January 2002. One of the charges was filed in the Istanbul State Security Court Number 4, which is now the High Criminal Court Number 12. The other was filed in the Beyoglu Criminal Court Number 2. The Istanbul High Criminal Court Number 12 condemned Coskun to 12 months and 15 days in prison for allegedly “inciting hatred and hostility among the people” (TPC 216). Coskun, who was not aware of the trial, was arrested in Adana on 22 August 2008 and put in prison.
The other charge in relation to this book was for allegedly “insulting the armed forces” (TPC 301). Coskun and the owner of Peri publishing house, Ahmet Önal, are both charged with that offence. The case was sent to the Ministry of Justice for special consideration due to a subsequent change in law.
The Solidarity Platform for Journalists in Prison (SPJP) issued a statement, protesting “writer Murat Coskun’s imprisonment for his ideas expressed in the book.” The SPJP demanded Coskun’s immediate release, and called on everyone valuing freedom of expression to express solidarity with Coskun.
According to the information provided by the SPJP, the number of writers and journalists in prison in Turkey is 21, including Coskun.
