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After months of delays, Turkish National Assembly approved a long – awaited revision of the penal’s code article 301, which limited the freedom of expression under the pretext of “insulting the turkishness”. The article has been used to prosecute hundreds of writers, including Nobel Literature Laureate Orhan Pamuk, for “insulting Turkishness”. Armenian- Turkish editor Hrant Dink, who was shot dead by an ultra- nationalist last year had been also convicted under article 301. After the reform it would be a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather that turkishness, and the justice minister’s permission will be required to open a case. The reform has been controversial in Turkey, where nationalism has grown in recent years along with disillusionment with the EU.However, writers and publishers fear they will continue to face frequent trials as they argue that the changes are minor while other laws restricting freedom of expression remain intact. E.E had also given a lukewarm response to the reform.

(source Reuters)

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