Pamuk Trial Postponed till February 7, 2006

Yesterday the first instance court of Shishli region of Istanbul decided to postpone the trial of Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk. The court decision is conditioned by the Pamuk case being sent to the Turkish Ministry of Justice. The court chairman stated the court next hearing will be held February 7, 2006. According to Turkish sources, the court decision caused dissatisfaction of the crowd gathered at the court entrance, who protested against European MPs’ support of Orhan Pamuk. Some of them even threw eggs on the delegates of European MPs, who had arrived in Turkey. It should be reminded that Pamuk is accused for “insulting the
Turkish people and Turkish Republic.” Pamuk’s interview with a Swiss newspaper, where he stated over 30 thousand Kurds and 1 million Armenians were killed in Turkey in early 20th century, underlies the institution of proceedings on a criminal case against the writer.