Freedom of Expression and Thought Awards given every year by the Turkish Publishers’ Union since 1995 were given with an online ceremony this year. The prizes were awarded to Mikado Publishing in the category of publishing, to Buket Uzuner in the category of writing and the Publishing House Effort Prize was awarded to Antik Sahaf, which has been in service in Tarsus for the last 23 years. In the ceremony, the Freedom of Publishing Report was presented as well, which compiled data on investigations and lawsuits against publishers, book banning decrees and censorship for the period between October 2019 and November 2020. According to the report, “distribution and sales” bans were brought against 56 books by the Criminal Judicatures of Peace in the one-year period. One book was removed from publication by the publishing house due to public sensitivity and reactions coming on social media. One printing house worker was sentenced to 10 months of imprisonment due to “printing a book.” One publishing house owner was sentenced to 2 years and one month of imprisonment due to printing and publishing a book that involved illegal organisation propaganda. A lawsuit was filed against one publishing house owner due to publishing a book that “denigrated religious values.” Lawsuits were filed against two publishing house owners due to publishing “obscene” publications. Lawsuits were filed against two translators due to “obscenity.” Lawsuits were filed against six writers due to their books and their prosecutions continue. One writer was sentenced to five months of imprisonment due to “obscenity.” 13 books, 4 of them focused on adult audiences, were declared “obscene publications.”
Please click here for the full report.
22.01.2020
turkyaybir.org.tr