Say Anything

Renowned concert pianist Fazil Say was given a 10-month suspended sentence for posting tweets “denigrating Islam,” although Amnesty International is far from happy with the court’s verdict.

The April 15 ruling from the 19th Istanbul Court Of Peace means Say, who has played with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, faces jail if he is found guilty of the same offence within the next five years.

“The conviction of Fazil Say is a flagrant violation of his freedom of expression, made possible by one of Turkey’s most draconian laws,” said AI’s Turkish expert Andrew Gardner.

“This case sends a chilling warning to anyone using Twitter or other social media in Turkey. Namely, that if you express an opinion the authorities don’t like, you could be next.”