I've written before about Orhan Pamuk, the prize-winning Turkish author who is facing trial this Friday for "insulting Turkishness" or naming the Armenian Genocide a genocide. Pamuk is but one of 60 Turkish writers and editors charged with what the EU calls, "non-violent expression of opinion," a situation that challenges Turkey's suitability for entry into Europe.

Pamuk sees it for what it is:

"I think the bureaucracy is resisting Turkey's entry to the EU," Pamuk explains.

"The right-wing, highly-conservative bureaucracy is upset by the freedom of speech that Turkey, the nation, is granting itself. I think in the long run Turkey will continue its road to the EU but it's getting to be a big trouble these days."