Turkish prosecutor investigates ‘Gezi Phenomenon’ book

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Erol Özkoray said “the Gezi phenomenon” was one of the tools “to perpetuate democratic struggle against political Islam in Turkey.”

Istanbul Public Prosecutor has kicked off an investigation into a book featuring sociological and political analysis of the Gezi Park Protests titled “Individualization and Democracy: The Gezi Phenomenon” on charges of insulting public officials.

The book which was published at the end of August was co-written by Erol Özkoray and Nurten Özkoray.

“I was expecting [Turkey’s] Islamist government to attack this book. Apparently green [Islamist] fascism does not know any boundaries even in this century we are living in. I do not recognize any boundaries of freedom of expression at this age we live in as a publisher, writer and intellectual,” Erol Özkoray said according to online news portal T24’s report.

Gezi Park protests, which started at the end of May against a redevelopment plan in Taksim Square’s iconic green area Gezi Park, turned into nation-wide unrest that lasted nearly two months.

Özkoray said “the Gezi phenomenon” was one of the tools “to perpetuate democratic struggle against political Islam in Turkey.”

“If the struggle to protect freedom of expression ends the country will surrender to Islamist totalitarianism. But this [investigation] attack can be seen as Islamic dictatorship’s death agony,” he said.