Turkish court clears writer over 'Daughters of Allah' novel
AFP
ISTANBUL- An Istanbul court on Thursday cleared writer Nedim Guersel of inciting religious hatred in his latest novel "The Daughters of Allah".
The book posed no "clear and evident danger to public order," ruled the court, following the recommendation of the prosecutor's office which had earlier backed an acquittal.
Guersel, who lives in Paris and was not present in court, could have faced up to three years in prison if found guilty.
He told the court the book was "insulting to the Prophet and the Koran," "Freedom of expression has limits," he said.
The novel, published in March 2008 in Turkey, deals with various writings linked to the life of the Prophet Mohammed, providing an alternative interpretation of the birth of Islam.
In a recent interview, Gursel told AFP he believed in the "freedom to cast a critical look at religions," while at the same time "respecting the faith of believers."
He said he regretted that the case had been brought because "everyone thought that Turkey had made progress in terms of freedom of expression."
In May, Gursel's lawyer Sehnaz Yuzer said his client had not attended due to fears of "incidents" but that he had made a deposition on a previous visit.
In January 2006 the same court cleared writer Orhan Pamuk of a charge of insulting the Turkish nation over remarks concerning the massacres of Armenians between 1915 and 1917. Later that year Pamuk won the Nobel prize for literature.
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