WRITTEN QUESTION E-0427/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Restrictions on freedom of expression in Turkey.
Date: 2002-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession to the European Union, book trade, freedom of expression, minority language, mother tongue, public order

C 92 E/10

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

(2003/C 92 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0427/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Restrictions on freedom of expression in Turkey

(21 February 2002)

According to reports in the international press, the Turkish parliament has decided to amend Article 312
of the Penal Code to make it more stringent. It will now be sufficient for there to be a suspicion of a
‘possible’ disturbance of public order to instigate the procedure to punish those responsible. According to
the reports, the entire issue was sparked off by requests from Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin for tuition
in the Kurdish language in schools and universities, which Turkey had undertaken to promote three years
ago.

The Turkish National Security Council interprets the requests from Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin as
‘separatist activities since they concern education in a language other than the official
language’. This
unprecedented development comes on top of the incredible story of Mr Fatih Tas, an editor under threat of
a one-year prison sentence for making the ‘mistake’ of publishing in Turkish a book by the eminent
American intellectual and Harvard professor, Noam Chomsky, entitled ‘American Interventionism’.
Professor Chomsky (who is sharply critical in the book of Turkey and the methods it uses to further the
ethnic cleansing of the Kurdish minority) intends to travel to Turkey on 13 February 2002 to appear
before the court in which the Turkish editor is to stand trial and then go on to Diyarbakir where a large
number of Kurds live.

Is the Commission aware of the above measures by the Turkish regime? What is its opinion? Is banning
books and the use of the Kurdish language consistent with bringing Turkey into line with the standards of
conduct befitting a European state?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2002)

The Commission is aware of the measures taken by the Turkish government to which the Honourable
Member refers.

It noted that the editor Mr Fatih Tas has been acquitted by an Istanbul Court. It is concerned by the
reaction of the Turkish authorities with respect to the exercise of the right of petition by students,
especially as the right of petition has been broadened by a recent amendment of the Turkish Constitution.

The Union expects Turkey to remove any legal provisions forbidding the use by Turkish citizens of their
mother tongue. These are short-term priorities of the Accession Partnership with Turkey.

(2003/C 92 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0487/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) and Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Religious minorities in Vietnam

(22 February 2002)

Is the Commission continuing to monitor the human rights situation in Vietnam, in particular, the rights
of religious minorities?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2002)

The Commission Delegation in Hanoi, together with the diplomatic missions of the Member States,
continues to follow closely the human rights situation in Vietnam.

Regarding religious freedom, over the last number of years, the Commission has observed considerable
including a significant proportion of the
progress for the majority of the Vietnamese people of faith,