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Freedom to Publish Prize for Turkish journalist

Persistence in the face of constant harrassment

by Eric Beauchemin

19-09-2008

Controversial Turkish journalist and publisher Ragip Zarakolu has been awarded the International Freedom to Publish prize. He has been a thorn in the side of the Turkish state for nearly 40 years, publishing books on taboo subjects such as the Armenian genocide, the Kurdish issue and Turkey's Greek minority.

Ragip Zarakolu receiving the IFA prize in Amsterdam (picture: Kaj ter Borgh)

The prize is awarded by the International Publishers Association for exemplary courage in upholding freedom of expression and freedom to publish. Ragip Zarakolu received the award in Amsterdam, this year's World Book Capital.

Ragip Zarakolu and his late wife in 1977 set up a publishing house in Istanbul that has been the target of Turkish censorship laws ever since. They constantly tried to create more space for democracy and freedom in Turkey.

One of the most controversial books they published was about Kurdistan in 1990, when the region was embroiled in a guerrilla war between the Turkish state and the PKK separatists. The book was immediately banned by the authorities.

"They came to the publishing house and wanted to take all the copies, but we distributed all the copies before they came. We made 3000 copies. They were astonished. There was nothing they could do. So later they charged us and began a trial. The first trial was at the Serious Crimes Court. And we were accused of inciting Kurds to rebel and my late wife went to prison in 1994 for six months."

Controversy
The prison sentences and the constant harassment from the Turkish state did not deter the Zarakolus. Two years later they published a book about the Armenian genocide, an even more controversial subject in Turkey.

"Our reaction was to publish more books about same topics because they charge us. They accuse us of a crime. So we try to understand what is the crime in reality: to publish a book or the topics inside the books. And if there is a crime inside the books, who are the real criminals. If you publish a book about the Armenian genocide and you were accused, you must show what the Armenian genocide is, who is responsible and who is really criminal."

Persistence
Earlier this year, Zarakolu was found guilty of translating and publishing yet another book about the Armenian genocide. He seems to relish these run-ins with the authorities, and the International Publishers Association has now recognised his persistence by awarding him the Freedom to Publish prize, an award his late wife won exactly ten years ago.

"You feel your struggle is accepted. I'm proud to take it because I love books. So I feel a nice tiredness because of that prize. Also I feel shame because it is a crime to be a publisher sometimes in Turkey. It's a shame for my country. So I will go on to publish, to find new titles, to open new doors, new windows. So I will go on. There's always potential dangers. I like that. As a publisher, nobody can put borders on my work."

Tags: Armenian genocide, press freedom, Turkey

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