Dissent in Turkey: Bulent Ersoy the latest target

Bulent Ersoy, one of Turkey's best known singers, made a remark on a television show that has resulted in an indictment. In reference to the ongoing Turkish military fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Ersoy simply stated that if she had a son, she "would not let him fight in other people's wars."

There have been Turkish incursions into northern Iraq in an attempt to disrupt PKK fighters. Some 40,000 have died since the conflict with the PKK began in 1984.

Compared to the dissent expressed on a daily basis on N. American networks when it comes to the military, the war-on-terror and related topics, Ersoy's comment seems almost tame ... just a statement of personal conviction ... yet in Turkey that can be enough to make you a target for official retribution.

Barkirkoy public prosecutor, Ali Cakir, indicted Ersoy on the grounds that her remark had the purpose of "making the public detest military service." All it took for the indictment to be served were ten citizens willing to launch complaints. Ersoy faces trial for speaking out against Article 318 of the Turkish Penal Code, and if successfully prosecuted could face up to three years in jail.

The diva is no stranger to negative attention. In 1981, Ersoy underwent a sex change operation, and subsequently became a target in state crackdowns on "social deviance." She has had public performances banned in the past, along with those of other transsexual and transgendered performers.

She was criticized in 1995 when her album Alaturka was released. On the track Aziz Istanbul Ersoy included the adhan (Islamic call to prayer). Due to her transsexual status this was seen as a provocation by some Muslim clerics.

In a way it is no surprise that Bulent Ersoy has become a target of official displeasure for voicing a controversial opinion. Over the years Turkish authorities have exhibited a level of sensitivity that at times comes off as bizarre overreaction.

Gulcihan Simsek, a DTP member and mayor of the city of Van, received a one year prison sentence for referring to PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, as "Mr Ocalan."

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, engaged in what can only be described as 'a war against cartoonists.' He sued the newspaper Evrensel for portraying him as a horse. Being portrayed in animal form apparently stings Erdogan into action, because shortly after the Evrensel affair, he sued a cartoonist named Musa Kart for portraying him as a cat tangled in a ball of wool.

Not even writers of the stature of Orhan Pamuk escape harsh treatment for simply expressing opinions that diverge from the official version. In 2005, during an interview with the Swiss publication, Das Magazin, Pamuk made a statement that he would not be allowed to forget. In reference to the Armenian genocide, he stated the truth when he said that thirty thousand Kurds and a million Armenians were killed.

The writer was subjected to such an intensive hate campaign as a result of these remarks, he was forced to leave Turkey. In December of 2005, Turkish state prosecutors dropped the charge that Pamuk had insulted Turkey's armed forces, although the charge of "insulting Turkishness" remained.

Bulent Ersoy isn't alone in being accused of "turning Turks against compulsory military service." In 2005, Perihan Magden, was targeted by the Turkish government for an article she penned that appeared in a weekly news magazine, Yeni Aktuel. In the article she defended the actions of Mehmet Tarhan, a young Turk who refused to perform military service. She rightly pointed out that the UN, of which Turkey is a member, acknowledges conscientious objection as a human right.

In July 2006, a court found in Magden's favor, ruling that her opinions were covered by freedom of expression, and not a crime under the Turkish penal code. Nonetheless, the life of this very accomplished writer was disrupted while this prosecution dragged on - she said this of the legal process: "The unnerving thing about the courts is they are so unpredictable, it's like a lottery. It's torture."

Istanbul is a great city to visit. The Turkish people are some of the best. It is disheartening when the actions of petty officialdom put a chill on freedom of expression.

As for Bulent Ersoy, she seems to be taking matters in her stride. Ever the diva, she failed to show up in court, saying she had a concert to attend. Her trial has been postponed until September, when she will be obliged to show up.