Turkish jounaliste Erol Özkoray got Ayse Nur Zarakolu the price of freedom of thought and expression for the year 2014. Association of Human Rights in Turkey (IHD) presented the award to Özkoray for all democratic struggles he led against the state and the power in this country (against the military, against the monopoly of the press, against the Islamist power and recognition of the Armenian Genocide). “It is morally and politically very important that this fight is finally recognized in my own country,” said Erol Özkoray noting that much remains to be done to achieve true democracy in Turkey.

Erol Özkoray be held on May 22 for his book on Gezi (The Phenomenon Gezi) for insulting the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He faces a year to 30 months in prison.

Özkoray had already received April 24, 2013 in Paris Medal of Courage CFC for his work for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, awarded by the co-chairs Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian under the patronage of the Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë.

People like Hrant Dink, Orhan Pamuk and Baskin Oran had already awarded the freedom of thought and awarded by IHD expression.

The Association of human rights in Turkey also made a political choice on the eve of the anniversary of the revolt Gezi which began on May 30 by awarding the prize to the family of victims, doctors who treated the wounded and imprisoned under the KCK trial of Kurdish journalists (they were released immediately lendemin ad IHD).

This prize is awarded for 12 years by the Istanbul branch of the IHD on behalf of Ayse Nur Zarakolu called “Mother Courage” by the Armenians, who died in 2002, pioneered the recognition of the Armenian genocide in Turkey and also the wife of the famous publisher Zarakolu.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014,
Jean Eckian © armenews.com