BDP Diyarbakýr MP Akýn Birdal asked Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin; “Is the ban on ‘Mem u Zîn’ that was published and distributed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism still in effect?”

On the written question presented to the President of the Assembly, Akýn Birdal noted that Exmedê Xanî’s historical work ‘Mem u Zîn’ was previously published in Kurdish and Turkish and distributed to parliamentarians.

Birdal said; “The ban on the book imposed by Ýstanbul No. 3 State Security Court in 1996 is still implemented by Heavy Criminal Courts today. The book 'Mem u Zîn' wasn’t allowed for Ýbrahim Eker who is jailed in Ankara Sincan No. 2 F-type prison for being still banned. Ýbrahim Eker objected to the decision of Ankara Execution Judicature but Ankara 2. High Criminal Court refused his demand for the book which is found objectionable and not allowed”.

Birdal addressed the following questions to Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin;

*“Is the ban on ‘Mem u Zîn’ that was published and distributed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism still in effect?

* If it is, what do you think about the distribution of a banned publication (no ban on the freedom of thought and press can be accepted) by the Ministry?

*If it is not, will it not be a discrimination not to avail prisoners of publications that everybody makes use of?

* Is the context of or the publication language of the book ‘Mem u Zîn’ the reason for being regarded as an objectionable book?”

Translation: Berna Ozgencil