This year, the International Publishers Association (IPA) gave its main award to a Turkish publisher who refused to stop his human rights campaign even after he received a three-year sentence.

Since 1977, when Ragip Zarakolu and his wife founded the publishing house “Belge”, he has been facing anger of the Turkish authorities. Ragip and his wife were imprisoned; their library was confiscated; they were fined. However, Zarakolu refused to stop his campaign on the freedom of speech stating that he “promotes respect towards various viewpoints and opinions in Turkey”.

The annual award «Freedom of Publishing Activities” is given to individuals or organizations that make prominent contributions in protection and support of publishing activities. Zarakolu will receive his award in September in Amsterdam, Holland, at an international seminar on contemporary methods of censorship.

Additional information is available at: http://tinyurl.com/5lell6

http://tinyurl.com/5lell6