Appeal to Turkish Justice Minister to end trial of God-denying pianist

February 17, 2013 by Norman Lebrecht

Fazil Say is due back in court tomorrow to face charges of religious defamation – blasphemy, in other words – for avowing his right to be an atheist on Twitter. The following letter has been posted tonight by British musicians and writers:

Minister of Justice
06669 Kizil
Ankara
Turkey

17 February 2013

Dear Minister

We are joining with English PEN to protest the charges against our fellow composer, musician and writer Fazıl Say.

On 18 February 2013, celebrated pianist, composer and writer Fazıl Say will appear in court for the second time for comments posted on the social networking service Twitter.

Say has been charged with religious defamation under Article 216/3 of the Turkish Penal Code in response to a series of messages posted on Twitter, including one which simply states ‘I am an atheist and I am proud to be able to say this so comfortably’. He has also been charged under Article 218 of the Turkish Penal Code, which increases sentences by half for offences committed ‘via press or broadcast’. Say denies the charges.

The charges are in violation of Say’s right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Turkey is a signatory. Even those who are usually critical of Say have voiced concerns over this case, which they believe could be damaging to Turkey’s international reputation.

Say first appeared in court in Istanbul on 18 October 2012, where his lawyers demanded his immediate acquittal. The acquittal call was rejected and the case adjourned until 18 February 2013. He faces up to 18 months in prison if found guilty.

Fazıl Say is gravely concerned about the negative impact a prison sentence would have on his career as the country’s leading classical composer and an internationally renowned pianist. Furthermore, he has suggested that he would consider moving abroad as a result of the ‘growing culture of intolerance’ in Turkey.

As fellow composers, musicians and writers who cherish both creative freedom and the right to free expression we strongly urge you to drop all charges against Fazıl Say immediately and unconditionally.

Yours sincerely

Thomas Adès

Alan Ayckbourn

William Boyd

Brian Eno

Moris Farhi

Michael Frayn

Maureen Freely

Roland Gift

David Hare

Charles Hazlewood

Eva Hoffman

Hanif Kureishi

Ian McEwan

Kamila Shamsie

Gillian Slovo

Ahdaf Soueif

Salil Tripathi