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As the London Book Fair opened this week, the Turkish Publishers Association announced its Freedom of Thought and Expression 2022 Awards. A ceremony in Istanbul saw Günışığı Kitaplığı in the publisher category, PEN Turkey and the Writers’ Union of Turkey in the author category received their awards, while the Bookstore Award was given to Fidan Bookstore from Malatya.
The Freedom of Thought and Expression Awards have been given every year since 1995 by the Turkish Publishers Association to those who are not afraid to express their thoughts, with the hope that Türkiye will achieve universal criteria of freedom of thought and expression as soon as possible. Each year, a publisher, an author and a bookstore are given an award, and the annual Freedom to Publish Report of the Association is also presented to the public during the ceremony.
In his opening speech at the ceremony, Kenan Kocatürk, President of the Turkish Publishers Association and member of the Executive Board of the International Publishers Association, said that the main problems that the Turkish publishing sector struggles with are the obstacles to freedom of thought and expression, as well as the prohibitions, legal difficulties and pressures on the freedom to publish. In his speech, Kocatürk drew attention to the danger of the spread and deepening of censorship in all areas of life.
The Turkish Publishers Association, a member of the International Publishers Association representing Türkiye, works to develop the publishing profession, solve industrial problems, support the fight against piracy, protect copyright and the freedom to publish, contribute to the development of reading culture and make Türkiye an international publishing center. Founded in 1985, the Turkish Publishers Association is chaired by Kenan Kocatürk.
