Media Talk - Turkey: Is Nationalism on the Rise? March 6, 2007

With Yavuz Baydar, Maureen Freely and Mehmet Ali Birand (via phone link). Moderated by Andrew Finkel.

Join us as we discuss nationalism and freedom of expression in Turkey in the wake of the assassination of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

While thousands of people were outraged by Dink's murder and protested against Article 301, which protects ‘Turkey and Turkishness’ and restricts the freedom of expression, there has also been a nationalist backlash.

The European Union opposes Article 301, arguing that it restricts the freedom of speech and expression.

Our panel discusses the situation in Turkey and whether the apparent rise of nationalism could affect the entire region as well as Ankara's relationship with Europe.

Yavuz Baydar the well-respected columnist and broadcaster and the reader's obudsman for Sabah. He has served as the president of the international Organization of News Ombudsmen (ONO).

Maureen Freely is Orhan Pamuk's translator and a journalist with a special interest in Turkey. She teaches at the University of Warwick. Her sixth novel, Enlightenment, to be published in mid-March, is set in Istanbul.

Mehmet Ali Birand is one of Turkey's best-known journalists, TV commentators and authors. He worked for the leading Turkish newspapers and TV programmes, including Sabah, Posta and CNN Turkey. Winner of 40 national and international awards as a journalist and broadcaster, including the Council of Europe's award for best reporting, he is also a "Chevalier de l'Ordra National de Merite" of the French Republic. (Via phone link).

Moderated by Andrew Finkel who for over 15 years corresponded from Istanbul for a variety of organisations including The Times, TIME magazine and CNN. He was also a featured columnist in the Turkish language press and is currently chief columnist for Today's Zaman.

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