Information on the situation of artists in Turkey was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

An article in the Turkish Daily News reported that Turkish contemporary art is distributed internationally and that Turkish artists are showing their work at large exhibitions, in cities such as Venice, São Paulo and Kassel (1 Nov. 2002). However, according to an Agence France Presse (AFP) report, Turkey is "closed to contemporary artists" because of its conservative social and religious structure (10 Dec. 2002). An article in the Turkish Daily News said that Turkish artists are dissatisfied with the copyright law, which they say is insufficient because they are not receiving their royalties (7 Oct. 2003).

In September 2001, 17 intellectuals and artists were acquitted after appearing in military court for publishing a book that discouraged people from carrying out their military service (IHF 23-25 Apr. 2002, 35). In February 2003, four artists were taken in for questioning after they participated in demonstrations against a possible war in Iraq (AFP 15 Feb. 2003). The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) reported that 14 artists (2 Apr. 2002) appeared in court in Ankara on 8 April 2002 for supporting an "illegal" organization (IFEX 24 Apr. 2002). However, the artists were acquitted a week later because there was insufficient evidence (ibid. 16 Apr. 2002).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 15 February 2003. "Manifestation contre la guerre en Turquie : des artistes interpellés." (Courrier AFP)

_____. 10 December 2002. Burak Ankinci. "Young Turks Dream of Work in the EU." (Dialog)

International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). 24 April 2002. Burak Bekdil, Hassan Oztoprak, Mehmed Uzun. "Altert Update: Update on Writers' and Journalists' Trials Underway in Turkey." (Writers in Prison Committee)

_____. 16 April 2002. "Writers and Artists Acquitted. (Writers in Prison Committee)

_____. 2 April 2002. Asiye Guzel Zeybek, Suleyman Yeter. "Report: Journalists and Writers Face Harsh Conditions in Turkish Prisons." (Writers in Prison Committee)

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF). 23-25 April 2002. Judicial Systems and Human Rights in the OSCE Region in 2001. http://www.ecoi.net/pub/nz78_00808osce.pdf [Accessed 16 Nov. 2004]

Turkish Daily News [Ankara]. 7 October 2003. "Copyrights Law to Pass in Nov." (Dialog).

_____. 1 November 2002. Jan Jonker Roslants. "Seeing Things in a Different Light - Upcoming Exhibitions in Holland and Turkey." (Dialog)

Attempts to contact the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Ankara and Istanbul States Fine Arts Galleries Directorates, four professors specializing in Turkish art, two human rights organizations, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT) and Mazlumder Istanbul, were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), European Union (2003 Regular Report on Turkey's Progress Towards Accession), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), United States Department of State, World News Connection (WNC).