Turkey may charge Dawkins' publisher for "insulting believers"

[Miktar]

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3209882.ece

The Independent reports that prosecutors in Turkey may charge the Turkish publisher of Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion with the crime of "insulting believers." He could get up to a year in prison.

Richard Dawkins' best-selling atheist manifesto The God Delusion was at the centre of a growing row over religious tolerance yesterday after the Turkish publishers of his book were threatened with legal action by prosecutors who accuse it of 'insulting believers'.

Erol Karaaslan, the founder of the small publishing house Kuzey Publications, could face between six months and a year in jail for "inciting hatred and enmity" if Istanbul prosecutors decide to press charges over the book, which has sold 6000 copies in Turkey since it was published this summer.

A year in prison? That's bull****.

[Paradox]

I don't exactly agree with Dawkins but a year in prison for writing a book? Thats just absolute bat****.

[phreak]

Freedom of expression is becaome more and more "taboo"

[Miktar]

I don't exactly agree with Dawkins but a year in prison for writing a book? Thats just absolute bat****.

*facepalms*

Dawkins wouldn't face the year in jail, the Turkish publisher will. Can you please pay attention?

[Jimmwyrm]

Ok, i yam confused... so just because the publisher printed the book, etc, etc. They might go to jail? But thats just silly no? Also, i have never heard of someone going to jail for insulting people... :\

[Paradox]

*facepalms*

Dawkins wouldn't face the year in jail, the Turkish publisher will. Can you please pay attention?

Imho thats even worse.

[cYn]

In response to this book that you have published, which wrongfully states that religions tend to be intolerant of opposing ideas, we will be throwing you in jail.

Yours in total absence of irony,
Turkish Prosecutor

O_O

[kHayne]

The best bit is that Turkey's supposed to be a moderate and secular nation, with aspirations to join the EU.

*APPLICATION DENIED*

[Bonezmann]

Thats just absolute bat****

FUN FACT:

It's called guano :) http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/guano

Total CRAP for throwing a publisher in jail for something Dawkins wrote...

Something like that (if I understand this correctly :) )

[Paradox]

FUN FACT:

It's called guano

I know, but it just doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Death_cometh]

I agree that it's bull. Islamics complain about regligous freedom and being discrimanation then they do this. Crazy zealots

[Repline]

you can't blame this on religeon it's happening across the world:

Vienna, Austria - Vienna's highest court on Monday confirmed an 18-month prison term handed down to a right-wing Austrian writer who had fled to Spain after being convicted on Holocaust denial charges 15 years ago...

... Austria's law making it a crime to deny the Holocaust applies to "whoever denies, grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide or other National Socialist crimes against humanity in a print publication, in broadcast or other media."

The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

British author David Irving was convicted under the law in February 2006 and sentenced to three years in prison. He served 13 months and was released in December 2006 on probation

~Holocaust denier

[Miktar]

Yeah, the anti-holocaust denial laws are also really whack. It's a little scary.

[kHayne]

To be fair, holocaust denial is almost always the work of dangerous people with malevelont agendas. It is tantamount to hate speech, which is pretty much outlawed everywhere.

[Miktar]

"Almost Always" is a bit pessimistic, but I won't deny that some people out there have agendas. However, the same could be said for people who use the Holocaust to further their own ends and agendas. I'm not saying two wrongs make a right, but rather I'm trying to make sure that someone's free speech or ideas isn't being suppressed just because someone somewhere is being reactionary.