Statement of protest against the situation of the freedom of expression in Turkey

Having observed with great anxiety the situation of the freedom of expression in Turkey,

we, writers representing more than 30 PEN centres from all over the world, gathered at the General Assembly of the Writers for Peace Committee of International PEN, held on the 7th of May 2011 in Bled (Slovenia),

strongly protest against measures infringing freedom of expression in Turkey and demand the immediate release of all detained journalists, writers and translators.

Moreover, we emphasize that the internet is a major area for the freedom of expression and this freedom must not be censored.

Edvard Kovač
Chair of the Writers for Peace Committee
PEN International