E. P. v. TurkeyPARTLY DISSENTING OPINION OF MR A.S GÖZÜBÜYÜK
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Document date: December 11, 1997
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PARTLY DISSENTING OPINION OF MR A.S GÖZÜBÜYÜK
I do not find it possible to join the majority in concluding that
there has been a breach of Article 10 of the Convention. In my opinion,
there are no solid grounds for concluding that, in this case, the
interference was not necessary in a democratic society and, in
particular, not proportionate to the aim of maintaining national
security and public safety.
In order to assess whether Mr P.'s conviction and sentence
answered a "pressing social need" and whether they were "proportionate
to the legitimate aims pursued", it is important to analyse the content
of the applicant's remarks in the light of the situation prevailing in
south-east Turkey at the time. In so doing, the Commission, taking
account of the margin of appreciation left to the Government, should
have confined itself to the question whether the judicial authorities
had good reasons to believe that there was a pressing social need for
such a measure, based on an acceptable assessment of the relevant
facts.
I note in this regard that, according to the national courts, the
applicant's book was aimed at provoking enmity and hatred between the
Turkish and Kurdish societies. In particular, the applicant alleged in
his book that the State oppressed the people of Kurdish origin,
attempted to destroy their identity by means of genocide and evacuation
and organised massacres against them. I find that certain indissociable
sections of the applicant's book are in fact of an inflammatory nature
and could, therefore, be deemed dangerous propaganda. In these
circumstances, the applicant's conviction and the penalty imposed on
him on account of the publication of his book could reasonably be said
to arise out of a pressing social need.
In the light of these considerations and having regard to the
State's margin of appreciation in this area, I am of the opinion that
the restriction placed on the applicant's freedom of expression was
proportionate to the legitimate aims pursued and that, therefore, it
could reasonably be regarded as necessary in a democratic society to
achieve those aims.