August 1, 2005
His Excellency Robert Kocharian President Republic of Armenia Yerevan
Dear Mr. President:
I write as president of Duke University to seek your personal intervention in the situation involving Yektan Turkyilmaz, a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Anthropology and a fellow of the John Hope Franklin Institute at my university. Mr. Turkyilmaz was arrested on June 17 by Armenian officials as he was leaving Yerevan Airport and has been held under high security since then without formal charges being filed. Mr. Turkyilmaz was arrested on a customs violation charge under Article 215, paragraph 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code, for attempting to take a number of books out of the country without receiving the required permissions. There is ample evidence that Mr. Turkyilmaz was unaware of the requirement to seek such permissions, and now faces a potential prison sentence of 4-8 years if convicted at trial.
Mr. Turkyilmaz is a scholar of extraordinary promise. He is one of a handful of Turkish scholars who have critically addressed the events of 1915 and is the first Turkish scholar to be granted access to your nation's Historical Archive. His exceptional command of many languages is, I am told, unique among scholars of this period and gives him an equally unique opportunity, therefore, to help illuminate this critical historical period.
It is my understanding that this is the first time this particular article in the Armenian Criminal Code “ which focuses principally on issues associated with terrorism “ has been applied to a person carrying books. Mr. Turkyilmaz has said he was unaware of this provision in the customs laws and would have sought appropriate permission had he been aware of it. Since June 17, Mr. Turkyilmaz has had only limited access to the outside world “ only his lawyer and one other scholar have been able to see him “ and he has not been permitted to use the telephone or to write or receive letters.
As the leader of a great country, you have the ability to intervene in this matter and to determine the appropriateness of the actions of your government and the Armenian prosecutors and police. You also have the ability to release Mr. Turkyilmaz. With respect, I urge you to do so.
Sincerely,
Richard H. Brodhead President, Duke University