In a demonstration in İstanbul on July 19 to protest arrests in the investigation into Ergenekon, a criminal network accused of plotting to overthrow the government, members of ADD used a banner that defined Atatürk as the anti-imperialist leader of Turkey's War of Independence and Lenin as Atatürk's greatest ally.The Kadıköy Public Prosecutor's Office reportedly said ADD had violated Law No. 5816 by showing Atatürk and Lenin side by side on the banner. Law No. 5816, concerning the crime of insulting Atatürk, states: "Anyone who publicly insults or curses the memory of Atatürk shall be imprisoned with a sentence of between one and three years. … If the crimes outlined in the first article are committed by a group of two or more individuals, publicly, in public districts or by means of the press, the penalty imposed will be increased by a proportion of one-half."
The association, however, denied the recent reports in a press release sent to Today's Zaman yesterday. "Some press organs have published news reports regarding the launching of an investigation into the ADD. No written notice has been sent to our association by any judicial authority about the opening of a probe over a banner carried during an ADD demonstration. We will not make any statements on the issue until we receive information from official sources with regard to the probe," the statement said.
It also stressed that the association sees Atatürk as the only leader and his principles as the only guiding rules.
LAURA MOTH
MAHIR ZEYNALOV
JAMES KIGER
PINAR VURUCU
DENİZ ERGÜREL
SEVGİ AKARÇEŞME
SİNEM CENGİZ
ABDULLA HAWEZ
ESRA MADEN
ŞULE KULU
M. EDİB YILMAZ
ERGİN HAVA
FATMA DEMİRELLİ
ABDULLAH AYASUN
BEGÜM BURAK
E. BARIŞ ALTINTAŞ