ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)–Zaman daily reports that Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk’s internet site has been hacked by Turkish hackers–who say that if Pamuk does not change his position on the Armenian genocide–"they will do more harm." According to the hackers–the "cigicigi.com" virus has seized materials from the original site–www.orhanpamuk.net.
Pamuk faced up to three years in prison for saying to a Swiss newspaper in February that Turkey is unwilling to deal with painful episodes in its treatment of the country’s Armenian minority or its continuing problems with its 12 million Kurdish citizens.
But his December 16–2005–trial for insulting Turkey’s national identity–was quickly halted when the presiding judge decided the court would need the approval of the Justice Ministry for the trial to proceed. If the ministry decides to proceed–the next hearing will be February 7–2006.
In the meantime–Turkey’s political establishment must decide whether it is prepared to continue with a trial that is already damaging the country’s case for EU membership. The European Union and human rights groups have harshly criticized the case as an attack on free speech.