Beleaguered Turkish publishers win 'freedom to publish' award
dpa
STOCKHOLM (dpa) - Turkish publisher Turhan Gunay and the Turkey-based publishing house Evrensel were Thursday named winners of the 2017 International Publishers Association (IPA) prize "for courage in upholding the freedom to publish."
"The freedom to publish situation in Turkey is severely limited today, and we chose to recognize the immense courage of Turkish publishers who dare to keep working despite the huge risks," jury chairman, Kristenn Einarsson, said in a statement.
Gunay is with the publishing branch of daily Cumhuriyet newspaper, and has also been editorial director of the Cumhuriyet Book Supplement for 27 years.
He was one of 17 Cumhuriyet staff arrested in November 2016 on alleged terrorism-related offences. He was released from pre-trial custody last week but the case is still pending, Einarsson told dpa.
Evrensel, which means "universal", was founded 1988 and publishes books in Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian and Arabic. Its assets were seized following the failed July 2016 coup attempt.
It was the first time since 2006 that two winners were to split the IPA Prix Voltaire award, worth 10,000 Swiss francs (10,300 dollars).
Einarsson of Norway said that it was not clear if Gunay would be allowed to attend the September 29 award ceremony at the Gothenburg Book Fair in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Last year the prize was awarded to jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi.
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He was one of 17 Cumhuriyet staff arrested in November 2016 on alleged terrorism-related offences. He was released from pre-trial custody last week but the case is still pending, Einarsson told dpa.
Evrensel, which means "universal", was founded 1988 and publishes books in Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian and Arabic. Its assets were seized following the failed July 2016 coup attempt.
It was the first time since 2006 that two winners were to split the IPA Prix Voltaire award, worth 10,000 Swiss francs (10,300 dollars).
Einarsson of Norway said that it was not clear if Gunay would be allowed to attend the September 29 award ceremony at the Gothenburg Book Fair in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Last year the prize was awarded to jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi.
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