bid by raising questions about the nation’s commitment to freedom of speech.
Coming just days before the EU is to begin a review of Turkey’s much-criticised justice system, the court decision was a sign that the long-desired goal of joining the wealthy EU was slowly forcing the government to embrace European norms of freedom and democracy.
“The court dropped the case,” Haluk Inanici, the author’s lawyer, said. “This case should not have been opened in the first place.”
Olli Rehn, the EU enlargement commissioner, said in a statement that the decision to dismiss charges was “good news for freedom of expression in Turkey” but warned that Turkey “needs to fill properly the loopholes” in its penal code, which he said limit freedom of expression.
But there’s still a way to go:
Turkey is still not off the hook, however, as dozens of people are still facing charges similar to Pamuk’s. The nationalist lawyers behind the charges have vowed to continue prosecuting those who allegedly break the law by insulting Turkey.
Kemal Kerincsiz, a board member of the Turkish Lawyers’ Union, said yesterday that he would appeal against the Pamuk decision.
“It is a scandal,” Mr Kerincsiz said. “Orhan Pamuk must be punished for insulting Turkey and Turkishness, it is a grave crime.”
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