Turkey has always claimed to be a secular democracy. However, any real review of Turkish practice would indicate that it is a democracy where some (Muslims) are far more equal than others (Christians and Armenian and Kurdish minorities).

Calling yourself a democracy —“ and secular —“ may work as a disguise for a little while, but the proof is in the way you live out your democracy.

One of the traits of a democracy is the ability of its citizens —“ and anyone else —“ to comment on, criticize, and yes, even ‘insult’ the politics and practices of that democracy. Being ultra-sensitive and ultranationalist go hand-in-hand. They both act to stifle debate. Getting upset about criticism makes you anything but a democracy (by making laws against criticism) or just makes you childish.

Turkish judges seem to be getting that point. Zaman Online reports: Novelist Shafak Acquitted of Insulting Turkishness. Excerpts follow:

Well-known Turkish novelist Elif Shafak has been acquitted in the case against her for allegedly “insulting Turkishness” due to her remarks in her latest novel named “The Bastard of Istanbul”.

The controversial trial of the famous author Shafak commenced this morning at Beyoglu court amid protests from ultranationalists against the European Union (EU).

Beyoglu 2nd Court of First Instance decided on Thursday to acquit Shafak in the case in which she was charged with “insulting Turkishness” due to lack of legal grounds for the crime in question and insufficient evidence.

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Turkey’s 35-year old novelist was sued under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, the same law that ensnared Orhan Pamuk, one of Turkey’s best-known contemporary authors, last year.

Late in July, an Istanbul court decided to open a case against author Elif Safak on charges of denigrating Turkishness for remarks made by Armenian characters in her book named “Father and Bastard” in Turkish version, aka “The Bastard of Istanbul.” Shafak faces up to three years imprisonment if found guilty.

Shafak’s book recounts the story of relations between an Armenian family and two Turkish families. An Armenian character in the book says that “Turkish butchers” killed her family and that the deaths were “genocide.”

The ultra-nationalist Turkish Lawyers Association Chairman Kemal Kerincsiz, who is infamous for filing complaints against journalists and authors, was also responsible for opening the case against author Elif Shafak, an assistant professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Arizona, in the U.S.

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The European Union has repeatedly criticized Turkey for its lack of progress on the freedom of expression of writers and journalists. Several writers have been convicted under the notorious Article 301; however, none have been jailed; instead, the courts have tended to hand down fines, the maximum amount being $4,000.

Earlier this year, an Istanbul court dropped a case brought against Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, also charged with ‘insulting Turkishness’, following remarks he had made concerning the killing of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.

In July, Perihan Magden another famous Turkish author and journalist was acquitted in the case against her for discouraging people from performing their military service due to remarks in her column in a Turkish daily.