ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A Turkish court on Monday dropped its prosecution of popular novelist Orhan Pamuk for "insulting Turkishness" in a magazine article.
The trial was adjourned Dec. 16 until Feb. 7, but was thrown out after the Justice Ministry refused to issue a ruling as to whether the charges should stand.
In his article, Pamuk alleged 20th century genocide of 1 million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds by Turkey.
He was charged under the country's newly rewritten Article 301, which makes it illegal to insult the republic, parliament or any organs of state, the BBC reported. The charge carries a sentence of up to three years in jail on conviction.
Pamuk's translator and friend, Maureen Freely, told the BBC that the 53-year-old author was overjoyed that the case had been dropped.
In Brussels, EU officials praised the decision to drop the prosecution, with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn calling it "good news for freedom of expression in Turkey."
Turkey is hoping to join the EU.
