Banned Books and the Armenian Genocide

October 2nd, 2008 by David Donabedian

When a government, through its educational and legal system, can direct the flow of thought, banning books and discouraging public debate in the process, truth and freedom of expression are the casualties. An extreme example of this may be seen in the actions taken by the government of Turkey to suppress discussion of its collective past and to stop publication of “books on…subjects such as the Armenian genocide, the Kurdish issue and Turkey’s Greek minority.”

Turkish journalist and publisher Ragip Zarakolu has for decades drawn attention to this suppressed history and worked to see it reach the public at large. Recently he was awarded the International Freedom to Publish prize: “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.

For over 90 years the Turkish state has pursued a policy of denial regarding the Armenian Genocide where, from 1915 to 1923 1.5 million unarmed Armenians were systematically deported and killed. Indeed, the government of Turkey has attempted to bury its crime behind a wall of silence, invented history, and repressive legislation.

The Murder of Turkish citizen Hrant Dink, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper Agos, in January of 2007, in daylight, in front of his Istanbul office, is a recent example of how official denial of the Armenian Genocide has created a culture of persecution and death. Dink was targeted because he dared to write about a subject that is forbidden for honest discussion.

The problem of talking about this event in Turkey is nowhere more evident than in the publishing industry. In Turkey books on the government organized killings of its Armenian and other minorities are banned as a matter of course. Indeed, Hrant Dink and others have been prosecuted under Article 301 for “insulting Turkishness.” Under Article 301 authors and publishers face lengthy jail terms for daring to speak openly and reflectively about Turkey’s unofficial past.

For more on the work of Ragip Zarakolu, read Radio Netherlands‘ coverage of the award and this year’s ceremony:

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/europe/080919-turkey-freedom-mc