This week’s appeal from PEN Center USA on behalf of imperiled writers addresses repressions in Turkey, no doubt exacerbated by the Iraq war. Perihan Magden and Pinar Selek are highlighted this week. But the Freedom to Write Committee notes they are part of a much larger problem:
Selek and Magden are among a large number of writers, publishers and journalists currently known to be on trial in Turkey. They are accused of charges ranging from “insult to the state,” judiciary, military and the memory of Ataturk, to attempting to influence the judiciary. In 2005 this situation was brought to international attention with the controversial trial against Orhan Pamuk, accused of “insult to the state” for his comment on the killings of Armenians at the start of the last century.
Dallas area writers interested in joining PEN can contact the Center directly for information. It is not necessary to be a member of PEN to download and send letters of support for FTW-listed writers.
