Madam, - The Irish Writers' Union condemns the recent trial in Ankara of the best-selling Turkish novelist and Impac prizewinner, Orhan Pamuk, for his references to the killing and deportation of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
The hounding of this courageous, distinguished and world renowned writer for referring to an historical truth by a state seeking admission to the European Community surely must be unacceptable to the majority of its members. We call therefore on the Turkish authorities to allow Orhan Pamuk, whose works are translated into 20 languages, the personal and artistic freedom that is the democratic entitlement of all writers. - Yours, etc,
PETER McKIMM,
Chairman,
Irish Writers' Union,
19 Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.