Books are Tried, Coups are Not

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu is being sued for publishing a book, which criticizes the September 12 1980 military coup in Turkey.

The book is called, " Trying the September 12 Regime." Zarakolu faces up to three years in prison.

Another book called "Pontos Culture," which was written by writer Omer Asan and published by the Belge Publishing House, has been cleared. The book was banned six years after it's first edition.

Editor Deniz Zarakolu has been acquitted. He was standing trial for the speech he gave in January 28, 2002, at the funeral of his mother, Ayse Nur Zarakolu, who was the founder of the Belge Publishing House.

Ragip Zarakolu, the editor of the Belge Publishing House, is standing trial for publishing the book, " Trying the September 12 Regime."

The book was published on the 23rd anniversary of the military coup. The trial is being held at the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM). Zarakolu is being charged for "inciting hatred and revenge," based on article 312 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

The book is composed of the International Court documents, which were prepared by Dr. Gazi Caglar from the Hanover University.

The documents had been gathered at Hanover University in 1988."Those who did the coup should be accused and tried, not those who made public the crimes against humanity, " said a statement from the Belge Publishing House.

"Pontos Culture" is cleared

The Istanbul DGM has cleared the book, "Pontos Culture," by writer Omer Asan. The book had been banned six years after being published. The court has also lifted the ban on the book.

The writer was being charged with article 8 of the Turkish terrorism law. That article was lifted with the recently approved EU reforms.

Charges against Ayse Nur Zarakolu of Belge Publishing House were dropped after her death. She was also being accused because of this book.

Funeral speech cleared too

Editor Deniz Zarakolu was acquitted for the speech he gave in January 28, 2002, at the funeral of his mother, Ayse Nur Zarakolu, who was the founder of the Belge Publishing House.

He was being charged with, "inciting revenge or hatred, which could cause people to become dangerous for each other," article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code. (EO/BB/EA/NM)