TURKEY has been condemned by Kazuo Ishiguro, the novelist, and fellow Man Booker prize nominees over a threat to imprison one of its leading writers for highlighting his country’s role in the 1915 Armenian genocide.

Orhan Pamuk, 53, who has written several award-winning books, was charged last week with “denigrating national identity” with comments in a Swiss newspaper. If found guilty at his trial, set for December 16, he could be jailed for up to three years.

Publicity surrounding the case has thrown the spotlight on Turkey’s human rights record as it prepares to begin negotiations next month on joining the European Union.

Ishiguro, who won the Booker prize in 1989 for The Remains of the Day and is on this year’s shortlist for Never Let Me Go, said: “I’m astonished and horrified to discover such a situation can arise in Turkey today — and to a writer who has done so much to enhance his country’s reputation. I hope the Turkish government does all in its power to bring this misguided prosecution to an end.”

John Banville, nominated this year for The Sea, said Pamuk was right to remind compatriots of past crimes committed in their name. “It will be a disgrace if Pamuk is jailed, and Turkey should realise the damage that will be done to its reputation if it goes ahead with this injustice,” he said.

Sebastian Barry, shortlisted for A Long Long Way, agreed. “A grown-up country like Turkey can afford to open the book fully on every aspect of its interesting and challenging history,” he said.

John Sutherland, chairman of the Man Booker judges, said: “It seems wholly inappropriate that statements of political opinion should be regarded like that. You can deny it (Pamuk’s comment) but you should not deny their freedom.”

The charges against Pamuk followed remarks made in February to a Zurich newspaper. “Thirty thousand Kurds and a million Armenians were killed in these lands and no one dares to speak out on this but me,” he said.

Turkey is extremely sensitive over its role in what is known as the Armenian genocide. Between 600,000 and 1.2m Armenians are thought to have been killed between 1915 and 1917 during a forced evacuation. The Turks say the figure is much lower and was the result of ethnic conflict, the first world war, disease and famine.

Pamuk’s case has been an embarrassment for the Turkish government, which is fighting opposition, especially in France and Germany, to its attempts to join the EU.

Abdullah Gul, the foreign minister, said of the charges: “There is no decision yet. I would like to announce to the world that there is freedom of expression in Turkey. People voice their opinions comfortably as long as they do not promote violence.”

Additional reporting: Gareth Jenkins, Istanbul

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