In an exclusive interview given to the paper Corriere della Sera Pamuk said that article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code was used against those who said things that the state did not like.

Discussing Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Pamuk said that although he favoured in Turkey’s membership that he observed resistance to it in both sides.

Pamuk stressed the importance of Turkey resolving its own identity and answering this question of its own identity which comes from a rich and diverse background.

Pamuk also stressed that the term of “good Muslim” has become even more complex in the western world. However, he added that he did not believe in the theory of the clash of civilisations.

In the past few years, Turkey become richer in the EU process but that this was reflected onto the poor and warned that there was a growing gap between rich and poor in Turkey, Pamuk said.