Turkish Writer Orhan Pamuk wins Nobel

Pamuk, 54, has gained a reputation for tackling controversial issues through his novels and has faced legal action in his homeland.

Awarded by the Swedish Academy, the Literature Prize comes with a cheque for 10m kronor (�740,000).

The Academy said: "In the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, (Pamuk) has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures."

It added: "Pamuk has said that growing up, he experienced a shift from a traditional Ottoman family environment to a more Western-oriented lifestyle.

"He wrote about this in his first published novel, a family chronicle... which in the spirit of Thomas Mann follows the development of a family over three generations."

He has faced prosecution for talking about the murder of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in Turkey during World War I and thousands of Kurds in subsequent years.

Under a 2005 law it is illegal for anyone to insult Turks, the republic or Turkish Grand National Assembly

source

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6044192.stm

 

 

The study of history in France takes a back seat to politics.The French parliament passes the denial law which now gets passed onto the upper House.

In Turkey the arguement over Artcile 301, which preserves Turkey's right to describe it's own vision of Turkishness, has been debated by members of Turkey's government. Amending or droping this article would be in her best interest. Will this movement have a chance now that France's latest move further isolates Turks? Who knows. Maybe Turkey could learn a lesson from France's fascist position. Afterall, Nicholas Sarkozy called Erdogan and tried to bargain with him before the midnight hour in order to block the bill if Turkey changes its penal code and opens its borders with Armenia.



Brussels and Ankara condemn French law on Armenia genocide
12.10.2006 - 15:50 CET | By Honor Mahony
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has condemned a French parliament vote in support of a law criminalising denial that Armenians suffered genocide by the Ottoman Turks, saying the move is likely to hinder open dialogue on Armenia in would-be EU member state Turkey.

"Should this law indeed enter into force, it would prohibit the debate and the dialogue which is necessary for reconciliation," said a commission spokeswoman after Paris' National Assembly vote on Thursday (12 October) afternoon.

"It is not up to the law to write history, but in order to write history, historians need to be able to conduct an open debate," she added. http://euobserver.com/9/22630?rss_rk=1


Fickle politics. Vive la Revolutione!

p.s. - Pamuk's books are worthwhile reading. Go football!



    

Edited by Seko - 12-Oct-2006 at 14:50

That's actually good news.

     Wow, congratulations to Orham Pamuk. I'm glad he won. Now his battle for free speech in Turkey can be recognized. In regards to this new law in France....

     NO!! If anything, this new law in France is a step back for anyone who wants to find out the truth about what happened during WWI! It doesn't matter which side they take, what matters is they are stooping down to Turkey's level in regards to free discussion. Just because Turkish nationalist politicians act like official censors in regards to this issue, doesn't mean France has to emulate them in order to get positive results 

Originally posted by Seko In Turkey the arguement over Artcile 301, which preserves Turkey's right to describe it's own vision of Turkishness, has been debated by members of Turkey's government. Amending or droping this article would be in her best interest. Will this movement have a chance now that France's latest move further isolates Turks? Who knows. Maybe Turkey could learn a lesson from France's fascist position. Afterall, Nicholas Sarkozy called Erdogan and tried to bargain with him before the midnight hour in order to block the bill if Turkey changes its penal code and opens its borders with Armenia.

     The issue with Turkey's closed borders with Armenia are not only because of the genocide issue, but because of Karabakh. I agree with you though, French politicians are acting like fascists by doing this. Section 301 of Turkey's penal code is also a fascistic law, and it happens to be the main charge brought against Orham Pamuk.

     If France wants to isolate Turkey, then this isn't the way to do it. The vast majority of international public opinion and historians already agree that what happened was a genocide, and by leaving debate wide open, it ensures that most people's opinions will be pro-genocide. Whether or not others want to spread misinformation is irrelevent, since they had the freedom to do it thus far, and nothing has changed. You don't win moral battles by putting yourself in the same boat as the fascists you condemn

     However, for Turkey to condemn this action by France is laughable. While they condemn France for censorship, they simultaneously support censorship of the same issue in their own country. In fact, they have been supporting censorship of this issue since their republic was established (which is why most of the political action about the genocide is conducted by the Armenian diaspora).

Originally posted by Komnenos Not a good day for the official Turkey. Not only Orhan Pamuk has received the Literature Nobelprize, but also has the French parliament passed a law that makes it a crime denying the "Armenian genocide " in France.

Actually it is not that bad.

That Orhan Pamuk has become the first Turke ever to win the Nobel Prize is wonderful news,

And the fact that the French parliament has decided to enshrine a historic falsification into law is not as bad for official Turkey, as it is for the French people whose basic liberty and freedom of speech have been trampled upon for the sake of short term political gains.

All members of AE from France must be aware that they may face persecution, fines and jail terms if they freely express an opinion on that well know black listed topic, which does not agree with the French lawmakers version of history.

In my opinion the work that  help Ohran Pamuk to win Nobel prize is the Istanbul book.He  guides us through Istanbuls monuments and lost paradises, the  Ottoman villas, back streets and waterways.He introduces the writers, artists, columnists and mad popular historians who have tracked Istanbul through one hundred and fifty years of city modernisation as the commentators said...

Edited by akritas - 12-Oct-2006 at 16:34

Originally posted by Reginmund Yes, a good choice I believe, even though I haven't read any of his books. It demonstrates the distance between intellectuals and the Turkish government. As for France making it illegal to deny the Armenian genocide, I hardly think this is meant as an attack on liberty, rather the other way around, those who propogate the opposite view are not exactly best friends with liberal politics. Freedom of speech is counterproductive if it is used to the advantage of those who would have no freedom of speech.

Waow... (sarcasm))some of the members who complain about The Turkish nationalism on AE welcomed the winning of Nobel by Orhan Pamuk, a Turkish author much more than The Turks here (/sarcasm)

Persionally I dont care..I am not a nationalist, so i can't  find any reason to celebrate his winning. My favourite author is Eckhart Tolle.


Edited by TheDiplomat - 13-Oct-2006 at 06:59

Originally posted by bg_turk Originally posted by Komnenos Not a good day for the official Turkey. Not only Orhan Pamuk has received the Literature Nobelprize, but also has the French parliament passed a law that makes it a crime denying the "Armenian genocide " in France. Actually it is not that bad. That Orhan Pamuk has become the first Turke ever to win the Nobel Prize is wonderful news, And the fact that the French parliament has decided to enshrine a historic falsification into law is not as bad for official Turkey, as it is for the French people whose basic liberty and freedom of speech have been trampled upon for the sake of short term political gains. All members of AE from France must be aware that they may face persecution, fines and jail terms if they freely express an opinion on that well know black listed topic, which does not agree with the French lawmakers version of history.

I suppose that in Turkey you can express freely your opinion lets say for Cyprus or Armenians genocide, massacre call it as you wish.

I think it is bad period for Turkey. This writter is very well known about his beliefs.
Is the first time that someone from Turkey wins a nobel prize?
ps. R you a politician or youstudy politics? I really like your answer on the topic. It was quite interesting. I really like it.
    

Edited by perikles - 13-Oct-2006 at 09:42

Parmuk, i think his support base comes from that fact many of us see him as representing the free mind and the potential for a new generation that arent tied down to a set way of thinking or history. I havent read his novels but im sure i will, more so for that east meets west dynamic.

Its a pity not all turks are as excited,  (i would be even as a nationalist) being good at the arts is just as much an achievement than being big and strong.

on a side note:  i also agree with seko, i also think the french desicion isnt helpful. Article 301 has to go, but that is a internal desicion that will be made when the people are sick of it. imitating it by making up something that does the opposite in the same way (illegal to deny rather than to say) would actaully harden the support around 301.




Edited by Leonidas - 13-Oct-2006 at 11:59