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Turkey probes atheist's 'God' book
by CNN
Reposted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/11/28/dawkins.turkey.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- A Turkish prosecutor has launched a probe into whether a book by best-selling atheist writer Richard Dawkins is an attack on religious values -- a move that could lead to the prosecution of the book's Turkish publisher.
Publisher Erol Karaaslan said he would be questioned by an Istanbul prosecutor on Wednesday as part of the official investigation into Dawkins' book, "The God Delusion."
Karaaslan could face trial and up to one year in prison if the prosecutor concludes that the book "incites religious hatred" and insults religious values, Milliyet newspaper reported. Karaaslan is both the publisher and translator of the book.
The investigation of the British scientist's book comes at a time when Turkey has been criticized for targeting writers and intellectuals for expressing opinions. The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, is pressing Ankara to change laws that curb free expression, calling them inconsistent with the bloc's free speech standards.
Turkey said this month it would soften a much-criticized law that makes denigrating Turkish identity, or insulting the country's institutions, a crime.
The Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk was among the highest profile Turks snared by the law, when he commented on the mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century.
Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by genocide scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however, denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying that the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
A probe was launched into "The God Delusion" after one reader complained that passages in the book were an assault on "sacred values," Karaaslan said.
No one was available for comment at the prosecutor's office.
The book has sold about 6,000 copies in Turkey since it was published by Karaaslan's Kuzey publishing house in June.
Also See:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2218406,00.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/11/28/dawkins.turkey.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- A Turkish prosecutor has launched a probe into whether a book by best-selling atheist writer Richard Dawkins is an attack on religious values -- a move that could lead to the prosecution of the book's Turkish publisher.
Publisher Erol Karaaslan said he would be questioned by an Istanbul prosecutor on Wednesday as part of the official investigation into Dawkins' book, "The God Delusion."
Karaaslan could face trial and up to one year in prison if the prosecutor concludes that the book "incites religious hatred" and insults religious values, Milliyet newspaper reported. Karaaslan is both the publisher and translator of the book.
The investigation of the British scientist's book comes at a time when Turkey has been criticized for targeting writers and intellectuals for expressing opinions. The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, is pressing Ankara to change laws that curb free expression, calling them inconsistent with the bloc's free speech standards.
Turkey said this month it would soften a much-criticized law that makes denigrating Turkish identity, or insulting the country's institutions, a crime.
The Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk was among the highest profile Turks snared by the law, when he commented on the mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century.
Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by genocide scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however, denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying that the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
A probe was launched into "The God Delusion" after one reader complained that passages in the book were an assault on "sacred values," Karaaslan said.
No one was available for comment at the prosecutor's office.
The book has sold about 6,000 copies in Turkey since it was published by Karaaslan's Kuzey publishing house in June.
Also See:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2218406,00.html
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Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 | PermalinkComments 1 - 50 of 105 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #91379 by annabanana on November 28, 2007 at 7:35 am
This is quite ridiculous and I'm sure RD is pretty upset about it as well and will do whatever he can to help his Turkish publisher. I can't believe things like this (first Ayaan, now this) still happen. I also can't believe that the US dropped the Armenian genocide issue among others, to remain allies with a government that is so backwards. Shame on us. Other Comments by annabanana
3. Comment #91380 by JemyM on November 28, 2007 at 7:36 am
""incites religious hatred" and insults religious values" = Threatens the power of the sect Other Comments by JemyM
4. Comment #91381 by kaiser on November 28, 2007 at 7:36 am
This could give good publicity to the book (of course I hope that nothing happens to the translator).My guess is, that muslims wont read it but probably protest it (like they did with S. Rushdies book).
It was the founder of Turkey (Mustafa Kemal Atatürk) who said:
"Through the abusive interpretation of ignorant and filthy priests ... Islam, this absurd theology of an immoral Bedouin, is a rotting corpse which poisons our lives."
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk
Other Comments by kaiser
5. Comment #91384 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 7:38 am
Humanity: (coll. n) Species that strives to make life more difficult for itself and others. Capable of mass slaughter of out-groups and prone to irrational behaviour. The species is believed to have evolved 120,000 years ago. Many scientists are of the opinion that becasue of the species self-destructive behaviour it is bound to die out as a result of it's own actions. See also dodo, collective insanity and delusion. Other Comments by irate_atheist
6. Comment #91386 by Aaron on November 28, 2007 at 7:46 am
I hope the judge can distinguish between human values (equality, justice, honesty, altruism, etc) and religious values (oppression, indoctrination, division, etc). If he (being in Mulsim Turkey the judge is almost guaranteed to be a man which proves my point) can make that distintion I hope he would find the publisher guilty of insulting religious values and championing human values. Other Comments by Aaron
7. Comment #91387 by AllanW on November 28, 2007 at 7:47 am
Calm down Beth, take a breath. Read the article; it's the translator/publisher who alerted the article writer to this inquiry. He will be asked for interview with the prosecutor; no more yet. As the article suggets, this is against a background where the EU has signalled that entry into the EU is being muddied by the current administrations impassivity on free speech.Let's also see how the book sales perform over the next few months hmm? Before we try an organised campaign to "shame the government".
Other Comments by AllanW
8. Comment #91388 by Fanusi Khiyal on November 28, 2007 at 7:48 am
It was only a matter of time.Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal
9. Comment #91389 by USA_Limey on November 28, 2007 at 7:49 am
The wider point is that under no circumstances should Turkey be given membership to the European Union if this nonsense goes ahead.It is simply incompatible with freedom of expression and the EU charter.
Other Comments by USA_Limey
10. Comment #91391 by Mishakal on November 28, 2007 at 7:59 am
The turks couldn't of given TGD more free (and good!) publicity if they had held a mass burning in front of the Hagia Sophia.I have a feeling the the investigation will fall apart due to the bad press since Turkey is desperate to join the EU.
Other Comments by Mishakal
11. Comment #91392 by mrjonno on November 28, 2007 at 8:02 am
This will be the big question for Turkey and EU membership, ban Europe's biggest selling book and its game over for their EU plans.I actually support Turkey joining the EU , but are more concerned about the role of the military than religion there
Other Comments by mrjonno
12. Comment #91393 by Jonathan Dore on November 28, 2007 at 8:13 am
Does anyone have any background info on how the relevant law came to be passed, and when, given its clear contradiction of the secular nature of Turkey's constitution?Other Comments by Jonathan Dore
13. Comment #91395 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 8:16 am
9. Comment #91387 by AllanW -Calm down? I don't think the good lady Beth was suggesting that we burn effigies of the prosecutor, attack Turkish Embassies worldwide or demand the death penalty for those who oppose rationalism.
We leave such displays of lunacy to the other side in this non-debate. It would serve you well to remember who needs to calm down as the screams of the deluded masses yet again try to drown out reason and free enquiry across the world.
Other Comments by irate_atheist
14. Comment #91397 by ramses on November 28, 2007 at 8:34 am
Free Speech? Anyone?This is how they want to be admitted to the EU?
Other Comments by ramses
15. Comment #91399 by Tyler Durden on November 28, 2007 at 8:35 am
The investigation of the British scientist's book comes at a time when Turkey has been criticized for targeting writers and intellectuals for expressing opinions.Opinions? Oh no, not opinions. They can hurt us, can't they?
How far have we come as a race only to stumble and fall based on the issue of how dangerous our opinions can be?
Other Comments by Tyler Durden
16. Comment #91400 by Fanusi Khiyal on November 28, 2007 at 8:35 am
Does anyone have any background info on how the relevant law came to be passed, and when, given its clear contradiction of the secular nature of Turkey's constitution?
A quick 101 about Turkey's history. Attarturk created the cult of "the Turk" in order to contain the hideous power of Islam. Turkey is a state in perpetual civil war, and always on the brink of sliding back into Islamic darkness.
Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal
17. Comment #91402 by aquilacane on November 28, 2007 at 8:36 am
"incites religious hatred and insults religious values"We should attack every religious book for inciting atheist hatred and insulting rational values.
Why is there no protection of logical, rational values?
Other Comments by aquilacane
18. Comment #91406 by Pieter on November 28, 2007 at 8:41 am
I agree with fanushi, and was always kind of surprised TGD and other books didn't kick off more of a firestorm sooner in the muslim world. it may be that unlike Salman Rushdie Prof. Dawkins is not in their minds an 'apostate'. Nevertheless, i would not count on this being the end of it.Other Comments by Pieter
19. Comment #91407 by CJ22 on November 28, 2007 at 8:43 am
If I had the money to do it, I'd sue a bible publisher or a Qu'ran publisher for incitement to religious hatred. I'm pretty sure I could make a cast-iron case too. Other Comments by CJ22
20. Comment #91409 by irate_atheist on November 28, 2007 at 8:51 am
22. Comment #91407 by CJ22 - We do have laws against incitement to violence. They should be enough to go on.
Either that or have these nutcases arrested for 'behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace'.
Other Comments by irate_atheist
21. Comment #91411 by Gymnopedie on November 28, 2007 at 8:55 am
Geeez. I was just thinking to myself yesterday that Turkey might finally be swinging back towards Western values. Guess not...It is strange how Turkey is often referred to as the "beacon of hope" for Islamic reform, but then filth like this surfaces. The fact that this became an issue is bad enough. If it goes any further than this, Turkey retains its status as ridiculous and insane.
Other Comments by Gymnopedie
22. Comment #91412 by Tyler Durden on November 28, 2007 at 8:55 am
Comment #91407 by CJ22 I'd sue a bible publisher or a Qu'ran publisher for incitement to religious hatred.Nice idea, I like it - but you may come up against the argument that these books were "divinely inspired" therefore exempt from such litigious acts.
Dawkins, Dennett, Hitch etc., on the other hand, are only human, and open to criticism.
(As an aside, everytime I see quotations outside a church spouting "Repent or you shall burn in hell" type-rhetoric, I am seriously tempted to walk in and complain. Who needs to see that kind of hate-speech while out in public?)
Other Comments by Tyler Durden
23. Comment #91414 by NormanDoering on November 28, 2007 at 8:58 am
Would it be possible to print copies of the atheist books in all the common Muslim languages and smuggle them into places like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc..Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Hitchens could waive copyright for all Muslim language editions of their books and encourage black market smuggling of them.
Turkish law couldn't touch a publisher in England, Sweden, the U.S. or Canada.
Though, if you're going to do something like that you might consider writing a new book that's specially for Muslims and getting help from Ibn Warraq, Rushdie and others who know Islam better.
How far could you push that book? Could you suggest violent revolution against such laws?
Other Comments by NormanDoering
24. Comment #91416 by LordSummerisle on November 28, 2007 at 9:02 am
I have always felt that the Turks have no business joining the EU before they have owned up to the Armenian genocide. If a country cannot honestly examine its own history, we can hardly expect it to do so to religion.I agree with Pieter, I'm surprised TGD hasn't been threatened with banning before.
Other Comments by LordSummerisle
25. Comment #91418 by BaronOchs on November 28, 2007 at 9:06 am
Until they stop torturing Kurds and supressing books they shouldn't be let anywhere near the EU (uhhh except in the obvious geographical sense). If they ban TGD and these offences are whitewashed by Brussells I think I would join the UKIP or whatever. Other Comments by BaronOchs
26. Comment #91431 by suffolkthinker on November 28, 2007 at 9:31 am
So this will be the "moderate" muslim country we are in neogtiations to allow to join the EU then?What a shame the EU contitution was rejected with Freedom of Speech and Religion entrenched in it.
Other Comments by suffolkthinker
27. Comment #91433 by Theocrapcy on November 28, 2007 at 9:32 am
"...whether a book by best-selling atheist writer Richard Dawkins is an attack on religious values"Well, duh.
Other Comments by Theocrapcy
28. Comment #91434 by maton100 on November 28, 2007 at 9:39 am
Back to when cats were witches and witches were burned. Always good to see modernity on the rise! Other Comments by maton100
29. Comment #91440 by Kevin Ronayne on November 28, 2007 at 10:06 am
It's worth pointing out that a book such as TGD would probably have been banned (or at least very unwelcome) in Ireland as recently as 50 years ago.The problem appears to be that rather than becoming more liberal, quite a number of "Islamic" countries appear to be heading in the other direction at present.
Other Comments by Kevin Ronayne
30. Comment #91441 by GoatBoy36 on November 28, 2007 at 10:21 am
In the immortal words of Tony Soprano:You see?
You see now why it is so important to protect Ayaan Hirsi Ali?
Other Comments by GoatBoy36
31. Comment #91442 by PrimeNumbers on November 28, 2007 at 10:24 am
Such actions just prove Dawkins correct, and totally prove that not only God is a delusion, but Religion poisons everything. Other Comments by PrimeNumbers
32. Comment #91443 by phasmagigas on November 28, 2007 at 10:26 am
its this type of thing that prompts books like TGD to be written in the first place.Im starting to feel that religious beliefs are a bit like a cage an animal finds itself in and doesnt even realise its not supposed to be there.
Other Comments by phasmagigas
33. Comment #91444 by BicycleRepairMan on November 28, 2007 at 10:27 am
http://edition.cnn.com/Theres a poll up on Cnn.com's Quickvote
Do you believe Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" insults religious values?
Yes 29% 401
No 71% 998
Total Votes: 1399
read related article »
This is not a scientific poll
I dont know whether to vote "yes" or "no" in this one, I wish there was "Yes, and thats a GOOD thing" or "No, but more books should"
Other Comments by BicycleRepairMan
34. Comment #91446 by tieInterceptor on November 28, 2007 at 10:28 am
this is just going to be free publicity for the book, and also will highlight some problems still remaining for Turkey, before they can seriously be considered to join the EU. Other Comments by tieInterceptor
35. Comment #91456 by SilentMike on November 28, 2007 at 11:05 am
What embarrasses me to no end is the fact that the book has been translated into Turkish before it's translated into hebrew and destributed in Israel. Bloody Turkish! Man that hurts.Plus we have an "offending religious feelings" law I'd really like to see put to the test.
[shakes his head and mumbles] "bloody god damn turkish"
Other Comments by SilentMike
36. Comment #91457 by Fanusi Khiyal on November 28, 2007 at 11:07 am
Something that just dawned on me - when you think about the title of this post, it gives a somewhat strange mental image.Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal
37. Comment #91458 by Quine on November 28, 2007 at 11:10 am
Do you believe Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" insults religious values?
When the doctor tells you that you are sick, is that an insult?
Other Comments by Quine
38. Comment #91459 by Bonzai on November 28, 2007 at 11:17 am
Of course he insults religious value, that is the whole point. Stupidity deserves to be insulted but stupidity in the name of religion has been getting a free ride for too long.When I hear news like this I think of the trembling beasts who dressed like priests and gave sermons about "the law" in the Island of Doctor Moreau. This vindicates the theory of evolution beyond a shadow of a doubt, only brains evolved from apes can be that primitive and stupid.
Other Comments by Bonzai
39. Comment #91460 by Spinoza on November 28, 2007 at 11:18 am
Quine, I guess it depends on how he does it...It might be CONSTRUED as an insult if he says "Haha you got cancer, you cigarette smoking retard!"
or "Your parents are idiots, they let you eat paint chips and now you're dying."
... however, If the translation was careful, there probably shouldn't be a problem...
Other Comments by Spinoza
40. Comment #91461 by Bonzai on November 28, 2007 at 11:20 am
I think Richard shouldn't set foot in Turkey in the future for his own safety.Other Comments by Bonzai
41. Comment #91463 by Vaal on November 28, 2007 at 11:23 am
Yep, I think the Bible and the Koran should be banned for inciting violence. Other Comments by Vaal
42. Comment #91464 by Bonzai on November 28, 2007 at 11:26 am
If Turkey ever gets into the EU there will be a good chance that some kind of law against hurting religious feeling will be passed in Europe, with some help from the Pope, Christians and misguided secular politicians who value "harmony" and "respect" above all else. A similar law was almost passed in the U.K. It would have been passed if Blair hasn't gone home early.Other Comments by Bonzai
43. Comment #91465 by drcancerman on November 28, 2007 at 11:27 am
And they still want to put Turkey in EU... that reminds me of Brazil, I quoted a few sentences of the TGD book, and specially the god's description from Dawkins... I got a few hundreds of people wanting to sue me and put me on jail for religious hatred in orkut. (and numerous other people wanting to buy the book, before the translation came)
I'm never setting my foot down in brasil again...and im brazilian, but in a few years and proud British!
Other Comments by drcancerman
44. Comment #91467 by black wolf on November 28, 2007 at 11:39 am
Bonzai, wouldn't it be funny if Christians and Muslims sued each other under EU law for hurting the other's feelings. 'Jesus is the son of God!'. 'No he ain't. Muhammad is his prophet! And only the Koran is the literal Word of God!'. 'Oh yeah? Well I'm suing you because you're insulting my faith!'. 'No you can't, because I'm suing you first! See you at court!'.Judge: 'Hmmm. Interesting. Know what? You're both retarded, and you're paying a hefty fine for wasting my time. Oh, did I hurt your feewings? Try and sue me.'
On another note, the religionuts are running out of exclamation marks soon.
Other Comments by black wolf
45. Comment #91477 by GoatBoy36 on November 28, 2007 at 12:16 pm
blackwolf,Excellent point. I watched Ann Coulter on Hannity and Colmes not long ago and she was getting a row from Alan Colmes because she'd said that Jews didn't accept that Jesus was the Messiah and apparently that comment was typical anti-Semitic language. I mean he really wasn't happy. Ann said to him but you're saying that Christianity itself is anti-Semitic because that's just a basic Christian belief, that Jesus is the Messiah. Sean Hannity for once wasn't saying much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpg584d7rZ8&feature=related
(Skip the first 4 minutes or so. )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu_qQj6kjpk&feature=related
gb.
Other Comments by GoatBoy36
46. Comment #91479 by Fanusi Khiyal on November 28, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Now, why, GoatBoy36 do you want to go and inflict Ann Coulter on us? What did we ever do to you?Returning to more serious matters, this is just the start. You may remember Britain's incitement to religious hatred law, and believe me, TGD, TEOF, and the rest do qualify. This is where the battle with Islam will be joined, and this, I will add, will be alot less pleasant than what's been going on before.
Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal
47. Comment #91483 by povl400 on November 28, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Another good reason not to allow Turkey into the EU. We require a certain minimum of civilized behavier for membership in the EU.Other Comments by povl400
48. Comment #91489 by notsobad on November 28, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Free promotion, yay.povl400,
wait till the court decides before generalizing.
Other Comments by notsobad
49. Comment #91502 by clodhopper on November 28, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I am taking Turkish Delight to court for causing cavities and inciting plaque. The punishment for insulting dental hygeine is 3yrs in Doncaster. Other Comments by clodhopper
50. Comment #91506 by Steven Mading on November 28, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Yes, this is good for promotion of the book, but don't forget that an ordinary individual might have to suffer a year in prison over it for the "crime" of being honest. I'd rather get the free promotion some other way.Other Comments by Steven Mading
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1. Comment #91376 by SteveN on November 28, 2007 at 7:30 am
The sensitivity of the faith-heads to anything that could be interpreted as an insult is really getting tiresome.
Other Comments by SteveN