Istanbul court has aquitted Turkish female writer Elif Shafak who in the spring of 2006 published a novel "The Bastard of Istanbul". The plot of the book is set in the times of the Ottoman genocide of Armenians.

On Thursday the local court aquitted the popular Turkish writer. No violation of Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code was established in her latest book coming out of print in April, 2006. Elif Shafik was facing 3 years' imprisonment for recollecting the genocide of Armenians in a literary work. The issue is currently under a ban. The official Ankara persists in refusing to acknowledge the events of 1915-1917, when more than a million Armenians were forcible deported from the empire or slaughtered, a genocide. Turks attribute this to the realities of war, the authorities solely blaming World War I.

The writer was not present at the court session. The commentators dubbed Shafak process a freedom of speech trial for Turkey, which is heading towards EU membership.

Court action was begun on September, 21. Prosecutor General of Istanbul accused the writer of violating Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Turkey, namely of "insulting Turkishness". The article came into power in June 2005 and immediately arouse massive criticism. About 60 Turkish writers and journalists were facing similar accusation. "The biggest problem with Article 301 is not that it puts one in prison, but rather that it forces us to be silent," noted Shafak. Those who criticize Article 301 in Turkey and outside the country believe that it suppresses the freedom of speech, which may prevent Turkey from entering the EU. One also has to note that Turkey saw first trial under the Article for a literary work.

The problem of non-recognition of the genocide of Armenians remains a controversial issue in EU-Turkey talks over the accession of the country.