[Date]

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
TC Easbakanlik
Ankara, Turkey
Fax: 011 90 312 417 0476

Foreign Minister and State Minister for Human Rights
Mr Abdullah Gül
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara Turkey
Fax: 011 90 312 287 8811

Your Excellencies,

I am writing to express my concern over the news that my colleague, writer Elif Shafak, is facing trial on charges of “insulting Turkishness” under Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code.

According to PEN’s information, Ms. Shafak is accused in connection with her book, The Bastard of Istanbul. On June 7, 2006, the Beyoglu Public Prosecutor in Istanbul dismissed proceedings launched against Ms. Shafak after hearing Ms. Shafak and her publisher Semih Sökmen’s argument that the book was a work of literature and was therefore not appropriate for prosecution. They added that the book aimed to promote the culture of peace. However, I understand that in early July the Istanbul 7th High Criminal Court overruled the decision not to proceed, following a complaint filed by Kemal Kerincsiz. The trial against Ms. Shafak will open September 21, 2006 before the Istanbul Beyoglu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

I am concerned that Elif Shafak is among the many writers, journalists, and publishers who continue to be brought before the Turkish Courts under Penal Code Article 301 in violation of their right to freedom of expression. I therefore respectfully ask that all charges against her be dropped and that your Excellencies conduct a full review of Turkish legislation with the aim of removing any remaining laws that can lead to the imprisonment of literary professionals solely for the practice of their right to freedom of expression.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your name and signature]

Cc: H.E. Nabi Şensoy
The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
2525 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: (202) 612-6744