Top court rules that book seizing violates free speech in Öcalan case

Turkey’s Constitutional Court has ruled the rights of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), were violated when his books were seized and their publishing prohibited.

Öcalan appealed to the court, arguing his rights were violated because his book titled “Kurdistan Revolution Manifesto, the Kurdish Issue and Democratic Nation Resolution [Defending Kurds in the Grips of Cultural Genocide]” was seized just as it reached the publishing phase.

The top court decided with a large majority that Öcalan’s rights were violated with the seizure of his books. With the verdict, the Turkish authorities will not be able to seize and destroy books, even with court orders.

Istanbul’s 2nd judgeship ruled for the seizure of the books on Sept. 21, 2012.