
#FreeWordsTurkey
A joint initiative for the Frankfurt Bookfair 2022
KulturForum TürkeiDeutschland, Akademie der Künste, Börsenverein des deutschen Buchhandels, Deutsche Journalisten Union in ver.di, Multikulturelles Forum, PEN- Zentrum Deutschland, in cooperation with Belge Yayınları support the initiative #FreeWordsTurkey at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022.
On a joint internet platform we present further information about the prosecution of Osman Kavala who is in jail since 17th of November in the high-security prison Silivri and the accusations against him in connection with the Gezi Park trials apart from a short documentation about imprisoned journalists.
Osman Kavala and the other defendants are accused of planning to overthrow the actual government. The Gezi Protests in summer 2013 serve as a justification for the accusation - according to the prosecutors these were organized by Osman Kavala and the other defendants. There is absolutely no evidence for these accusations. The prosecutors demand lifelong sentences.
The case of Kavala and the other defendants is only one of many examples for the harsh practices the Turkish Government employs to silence its critics: During the state of emergency, which has lasted for two full years, approximately 1.500 organizations and foundations have been closed down. Peaceful protests are oppressed, critical comments about the government can easily lead to prison - actually more than 130 media professionals are in jail. Since July 2016 more than 130.000 state employees have been dismissed from their jobs due to alleged „connections to terrorist organizations“.
You can find information about the latest events in Turkey as well as our program for this year’s Frankfurt Bookfair under the category „News“. In the photo and video galleries, you have access to visual material about all topics including our events at the Buchmesse. We are looking forward to welcome you at the stand of the KulturForum TürkeiDeutschland in Halle 4.0 Stand G91.