Irvine Welsh book ban lifted in Turkey

IRVINE Welsh has told of his delight after a ban on the sale of his book Porno in Turkey was overturned.

The follow-up to his best-selling hit Trainspotting was removed from sale in the country because of its “obscene” content.

The move saw the novelist’s Turkish publishers taken to court and fined for distributing the book more than ten years ago.

However, the ban has now been lifted following a lengthy legal battle and the book, which follows the adventures of Renton, Sick Boy and Begbie, is back on the shelves.

The city-born author described the decision as a victory for freedom of expression.

Posting on Twitter, he said: “Delighted to hear from Turkish publishers, that after a long obscenity ban by courts, my novel PORNO is now back on the shelves.

“They apparently had an obscenity trial, sooo 60’s, and the publishers were fined.”

Turkish company Studio Image Publishers was taken to court along with the book’s translator in 2002 and charged under obscenity laws with “publishing pornographic material”.

They were found guilty following a trial at a criminal court in Istanbul and fined more than £1 million, but appealed against the verdict.

The Turkish authorities take a hard line on any materials which they considers insulting or offensive.