Freedom in Disguise

It is easier to proclaim a curb on freedom in Turkey than to enforce it.

In all Turkey last week, after passage of Premier Adnan Menderes' latest law curbing free speech (TIME, June 11), only one Istanbul newspaper printed an editorial page. But there were other ways of making a point. The outspoken Ankara newsweekly Akis (patterned after TIME) led its issue with a long review of Schiller's 18th century tragedy The Robbers, dealing with a power-drunk tyranny and a megalomaniac ruler. Akis also helpfully printed a few of the play's best lines. Sample (the villainous Franz speaking): "I will destroy everything that hinders my becoming master of this country." Akis Editor Metin Toker, who is a son-in-law of former President Ismet Inonu, also launched a new feature entitled "History." Starting for no apparent reason with the life of France's Napoleon III, the first article told how that vain schemer first destroyed the French republic, then made himself dictator, and finally led his country to ruin.

On the Record. The day after the new law went into effect, Kasim Gulek, the shrewd and forceful leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, made a speech at Biga. He was not deterred by the sight of police installing a tape recorder near the microphone.

"We do not approve of this law, and will do everything we can to get it repealed," he cried. "But meanwhile, since it is a law, we shall speak within its limits. I am not here to criticize the government but to tell you what the Republican Party will do when we return to power. We shall restore absolute freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Foreign exchange permits and permits for importing foreign goods will not be given on the basis of favoritism. We shall not permit the use of luxurious Cadillacs costing as much as 100,000 lire for government officials . . ."

By that time his audience of 15,000 was applauding and guffawing. Gulek had, of course, not criticized the government. But by enumerating what he and his party would do if they came to power, he had succeeded in listing what many Turks think are the most glaring sins of the Democratic government. Istanbul papers printed most of his remarks verbatim.

Found Guilty. But Menderes was not minded to let freedom ring. His police seized Akis' next issue--because it reprinted TIME'S report of his latest press gag. And under an earlier Menderes anti-free-speech law, an Istanbul court last week sentenced Opposition Chief Gulek to a year in jail. His offense: at a press conference last year, he turned aside a question about his opponents by saying, "They know how they won the last elections better than I do--I won't comment on that." This, the court now found, constituted an insult to the National Assembly. As Kasim Gulek left court, free on bail, his admirers hoisted him on their shoulders and, shouting "Long live Gulek," bore him through the streets to party headquarters. That evening at an alumni dinner at Istanbul's U.S.-run Robert College, the toastmaster proposed a toast for Alumnus Gulek, and nearly 300 attending stood up for a minute's homage.

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