Turkish Grand National Assembly Chair Bulent Arinc has announced that he condemns the latest "lynch campaign" targeting Gazi University Economic and Administrative Sciences Faculty Public Administration Department lecturer Prof. Dr. Atilla Yayla for his publicly expressed views on modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Yayla was dismissed from his lecturing duties last week after coming under fire for criticizing Ataturk and the doctrine of "Kemalizm" during a speech at a political party conference in Izmir with accusations against him bordering on treason.

Arinc, in a statement on the issue, said that although Yayla may have made remarks that could not be approved, turning this into a lynch campaign was not only wrong but also very dangerous for the freedom of expression in Turkey.

"In Yayla's speech" said the parliament speaker, "there is no sentence that denigrates Ataturk or insults him. The love for Ataturk is rooted in Turkey today. If that were the case, we would have all reacted".

Subject to the recent crisis around Arinc that has decorated the front pages of the mass media and been aired on most television channels, is a November 18 speech made my Arinc at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Izmir Youth Wing conference titles "the social effects of the relationship between the European Union and Turkey".

Prof. Dr. Yayla separated Turkish history into two eras in history with the first being between 195-1945 and the other being post-1950.

"Kemalizm corresponds more with regression than it does with development" Yayla said in his speech, adding, "in the future they will ask us why are statues of this man everywhere".

The furor over his remarks was sparked off with a new report containing his views published in the Aegean Yeni Asir newspaper that led immediately to strong reaction from retired generals in Turkey.

Gazi University rector Kadri Yamac, disclosed that Yayla's remarks on Ataturk had led to great frustration in the university itself while the Izmir Public Prosecutor's office launched an investigation into them. It was later revealed by Yamac that the professor was relieved from his lecturing duties. Yayla was also protested by members of the Izmir branch of the opposition True Path Party (DYP) who on November 23 declared he had insulted Ataturk.

11 on trial, 2 imprisoned

Criticism of Ataturk draws a hefty punishment in Turkey under a so-called "Law to Protect Ataturk" that was passed in parliament in 1951. A total of 11 people have been put on trial under this law and two have been sentenced to jail.

Most of those investigated or prosecuted for "Ataturk crimes" are intellectuals ranging from publishers to translators, rights activists to journalists.

Author Mustafa Islamoglu and journalist Hakan Albayrak were arrested under these charges and have spent various terms in prison.

Peri Publishing House owner Ahmet Onal was sentenced to jail; Journalist İpek Calislar, Publishers Ragip Zarakolu and Fatih Tas, translators Lutfi Taylan Tosun and Aysel Yildirim, Ozgur-Der Child Club executive Zehra Comakli Turkmen, journalists Mehmet Terzi and Oral Calislar have been subject to prosecution. An investigation launched against Ertugrul Kurkcu under the law resulted with a dismissal of proceedings. (EO/TK/II/YE)