February 5 | "Der meistgehasste Türke" is published in Switzerland. In this interview, Pamuk alludes to the million Armenians killed in Turkey. The interview is quickly translated and printed in Turkey. Newspaper columnists attack Pamuk. |
February 16 | In Kayseri, Mehmet Özer and Mehmet Üçok file charges of "insulting the Turkish identity" against Pamuk. |
February 18 | Orhan Pekmezçi joins the suit, adding charges of violating Articles 159 and 312 of the Turkish Penal Code. (It looks to me like 159 was already invoked above.) |
February 19 | Pamuk is quoted in Zaman to the effect that his interview is being misrepresented. |
Early March | Prime Minister Erdoğan and opposition leader Baykal call for the establishment of a joint Turkish-Armenian commission to research the events of 1915-23. |
March 27 | Books by Pamuk are burned at a "Respect the Flag" rally in Bilecik. |
March 29 | Mustafa Altınpınar issues an order that Pamuk's books should be removed from district libraries and bookstores. The provincial governor cancels the order. |
April 2 | Anti-Pamuk demonstrations in İsparta province. Demonstrators demand a trial. At this time Pamuk is in London and New York; he gives an interview to Ãngel GurrÃa-Quintana. |
June | Pamuk returns to Istanbul. The controversy over his remarks has died down; the Instanbul prosecutor dismisses the charges against him. |
June 1 | The Turkish legislature passes Article 301 of the Penal Code, replacing Article 159. |
July 7 | Turgay Evsen prosecutes Hrant Dink on charges of "denigrating the Turkish identity". |
August 31 | Turgay Evsen files charges against Pamuk in Istanbul under article 301. The court announces that Pamuk will be arrested, but instead "invites" him to appear in court. |
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October 3 | The EU votes on considering Turkey for membership. The vote passes, marking the opening of membership negotiations. |
October | Hrant Dink is convicted and sentenced to six months in prison. |
October 13 | The Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded to Harold Pinter. Pamuk had been a contender. |
October 14 | In a television interview, Pamuk backs off some from his statements in February. |
Late October | Pamuk says, in an interview in Die Welt, that the Turkish military "impedes democratic development." Kemal Kerincsiz uses this remark as the basis for a new Article 301 charge. Pamuk accepts the Friedenspreis from the German Book Trade. |
December 2 | Metin Aydın rules Pamuk cannot be tried under Article 301 for an offense committed before the new Penal Code went into effect. He will have to be tried under Article 159 of the earlier code, which requires the approval of the Minister of Justice. |
December 13 | José Saramago televises a manifesto in support of Pamuk. |
December 16 | The date of the trial. Judge Aydın announces that he has not received authorization from the Minister, and adjourns until February 7. Protestors throw eggs at Pamuk and call him a traitor. |
January 23 | Judge Aydın announces that Minister Çiçek has declined to issue a ruling, and that he has no choice but to drop charges against Pamuk.
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