American Novelist Responds to Erdogan By Haaretz <\/p>\n
Published February 02, 2012. <\/p>\n
Noted American Paul Auster author defended his decision to refuse a Turkey visit over the limits the country places on free speech on Wednesday, after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused him of having double standards for visiting Israel. <\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Erdogan branded the acclaimed novelist as ignorant on Tuesday for refusing to visit Turkey in protest at the jailing of journalists, saying: \u201cIf you come so what? If you don\u2019t come, so what? Will Turkey lose prestige?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cSupposedly Israel is a democratic, secular country, a country where freedom of expression and individual rights and freedoms are limitless. What an ignorant man you are,\u201d Erdogan said, adding: \u201cThis gentleman can\u2019t see the repression and rights violations in Israel\u2026 This is serious disrespect to Turkey.\u201d <\/p>\n
In a statement released on Wednesday and published in the New York Times\u2019 Arts Beat blog, the American author defended his decision to stay away from Turkey, saying that whatever \u201cthe Prime Minister might think about the state of Israel, the fact is that free speech exists there and no writers or journalists are in jail.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to the latest numbers gathered by PEN, there are nearly one hundred writers imprisoned in Turkey, not to speak of independent International publishers such as Ragip Zarakolu, whose case is being closely watched by PEN Centers around the world,\u201d Auster added. <\/p>\n
In reference to Erdogan claims that Auster was willing to visit Israel even though it \u201crained bombs down on Gaza,\u201d the American author said: \u201cAll countries are flawed and beset by myriad problems, Mr. Prime Minister, including my United States, including your Turkey.\u201d <\/p>\n
For more, go to haaretz.com <\/p>\n
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Read more from the original source: American Novelist Responds to Erdogan By Haaretz Published February 02, 2012. Noted American Paul Auster author defended his decision to refuse a Turkey visit over the limits the country places on free speech on Wednesday, after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused him of having double standards for visiting Israel. Continue reading
\nPaul Auster: Unlike Turkey, Israel Has Free Speech<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"