Tag Archive for: Turkey

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Store språkmangler i rettssystemet: “Kurdisk er ikke et språk i Tyrkia”

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Report: Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey

Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey Report  


PEN Norway has examined the use of the Kurdish language in legal cases and court room in Turkey. Our report findings illustrate that few Kurdish speakers were allowed to use their mother tongue. 


Four out of five Kurdish speakers report on discrimination in Court cases 


PEN Norway’s report, Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey, has examined the possibility for Kurdish speakers to use their native language in court cases. A total of 226 Kurdish-speaking journalists, writers, and civil society actors participated in the study. The Kurds are the largest ethnic and linguistic minority in Turkey. For decades, they have been denied the right to their own language and identity in public spheres.


Read the report (English)

Read the report (Turkish)

Recommendations:

1. It is recommended by PEN Norway that the authorities in Turkey establish an independent body to train, examine (bi-annually) and maintain a register of qualified interpreters in Kurdish-Turkish legal interpreting. Serious attempts should be made to ensure gender balance on said register.

2. We further recommend that courses be offered not only in Kurdish and Turkish legal interpreting, but for all languages supported in the courts in Turkey. An example is PEN Norway’s workshop held in conjunction between TOHAV (Toplum ve Hukuk Araştırma Vakfı) beginning 14 October, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, in which 15 interpreters received 12 training sessions focusing on the law in general, on sight translation, Turkish-Kurdish and Kurdish-Turkish written, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, as well as an initial lecture on ethics and impartiality in relation to courtroom interpreting.

3. We further recommend that a committee of experts should be established to assess the need for an independent institution to initiate and oversee examinations for a qualification in interpreting and translating in the courtroom.

4. It is recommended that the UK’s Institute of Linguists and its DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting) is taken as a model and that care is taken and investment made to consult and to begin to implement such a system via an independent institution in Turkey.

5. We would recommend that, whilst the Kurdish language remains such a source for discrimination in the judicial system, steps are taken to further protect and ensure the rights of its speakers in the courts at every level in Turkey, either by way of the establishment of a category for signatories to the Charter on Regional or Minority Languages that can be signed (and on examination, current signatories have the option to ‘select’ the categories they wish to implement) by member states of the Council of Europe rather than only the EU, or by way of more stringent articles being added to existing legislation in order to address the lack of regulation of interpreting in the courtrooms in Turkey.

6. We would recommend that the authorities in Turkey enter into dialogue with the relevant offices in the Council of Europe’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations in order to discuss funding and training for such crucial reforms in the securing of linguistic rights within the judicial system in Turkey

Report findings:


  • 99% of defendants surveyed were not informed by the police taking their initial statements (so many of which go on to constitute the basis of entire indictments) of their right to give their statements in their first language
  • Prior to their giving a statement, the charges were not explained to 62% of defendants surveyed in their first language, or in a language that they could best understand
  • 52% of defendants surveyed expressed the wish to use their first language (either during the giving of their statement or during their trial). However, 63% of those requesting was denied
  • 78% of defendants surveyed did not think the interpreter accurately conveyed their statements (spoken testimony) to the court
  • 68% of the defendants surveyed stated that the judge made remarks about their request to use Kurdish, many of which, when one looks at the narrative answers, were derogatory, referring to Kurdish at best as an ‘unknown language’
  • The court documents were not explained to 99% of defendants surveyed in their first and best-known language.
  • 53% of defendants surveyed were advised to forgo an interpreter in order to speed up proceedings.
  • 47% of defendants believed that an inadequacy in being able to understand or being understood affected the outcome of the trial.

Read the full report here

About PEN Norway’s Turkey work

The situation for freedom of expression in Turkey has deteriorated over the past ten years, with an increasing number of arrests of journalists, writers, lawyers, and other civil society actors. PEN Norway has worked to promote freedom of expression and rule of law  in Turkey for over 30 years, in close collaboration with local partners.

PEN Norway’s work focuses particularly on rule of law for journalists , writers and other civil society actors, through research, capacity building, and advocacy work. This includes observing and monitoring relevant trials freedom, studying indictments in collaboration with legal experts, building capacity of legal professionals, and supporting persons that has been silenced or imprisoned for using their exercising free expression.

Read more about PEN Norway’s work in Turkey

Questions about the report or PEN Norway’s Turkey work? Contact us:



CAROLINE STOCKFORD
Turkey advisor
caroline@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


CEREN UYSAL
Legal Advisor
ceren@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


SIRI BERGE ENGERUD
Communications Advisor
siri@norskpen.no
Languages: Norwegian, English

Related news: 

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Tyrkia-rapport:/av Siri Berge Engerud

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Ny Tyrkia-rapport:/av Siri Berge Engerud

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PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project Report 2025

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Tyrkia: /av Siri Berge Engerud
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PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project Report 2025

PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project Report 2025  


PEN Norway’s third Turkey Indictment Report illustrates that indictments against journalists, lawyers and other civil society actors in Turkey have significant legal deficiencies, which can contribute to an unfair outcome. 


None of the indictments meet national and international legal standards


In collaboration with lawyers, judges and legal experts from Turkey and Europe, PEN Norway has studied 11 indictments against journalists, lawyers, and civil society actors in over the past three years. That includes the indictments against Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, professor and doctor Şebnem Korur Fincancı. None of the indictments meet national and international legal standards. In addition, the report includes articles on the state of rule of law and freedom of expression in the country.   


Read the report (in English)

Read the report (in Turkish)

Recommendations:

1. Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law

The independence of the judiciary and prosecution service must be restored to ensure fair trials and prevent politically motivated indictments. The Council of Judges and Prosecutors should operate independently of the executive branch, with transparent appointment processes that prioritise legal expertise and integrity over political loyalty. Furthermore, judges and prosecutors must be protected from government interference and public pressure to rule in a particular manner.

2. Reforming Indictment Practices

The indictment process in Turkey must be overhauled to meet both domestic legal standards and international human rights obligations. Prosecutors must ensure that each indictment contains clear, specific, and well-supported allegations, directly linking the evidence to the alleged crime. The use of copy-pasted content from unrelated cases must cease, and judicial authorities should reject indictments that fail to meet basic legal requirements. Additionally, the presumption of innocence must be upheld by preventing government officials and pro-government media from making prejudicial statements about ongoing cases.

3. Freedom of Expression and Press Protection

The criminalisation of journalism must end. Articles 299 (insulting the President) and 301 (denigrating the state) of the Turkish Penal Code should be repealed or significantly amended in line with international human rights standards. Anti-terror laws (TMK) must be reformed to distinguish between legitimate journalistic activities and genuine threats to public security. Furthermore, all ongoing prosecutions against journalists, writers, and activists for peaceful expression should be immediately dismissed, and past convictions should be reviewed for potential miscarriages of justice.

4. Prosecutorial Training and Legal Education Reform

A critical step toward judicial reform is comprehensive training for prosecutors to improve the quality and fairness of indictments. Many of the flaws identified in this report stem from a lack of adherence to procedural law and best practices in indictment writing. PEN Norway’s Guidelines on Indictment Writing for Prosecutors in Turkey provide a clear framework for improving the structure, content, and evidentiary basis of indictments. These guidelines should be integrated into formal legal education and ongoing professional training for prosecutors. Additionally, the development of a standardised indictment template, aligned with both Turkey’s Procedural Code and international legal principles, would help ensure consistency and legal clarity. Training programmes should also address the ethical responsibilities of prosecutors, including the importance of impartiality, respect for due process, and the avoidance of politically motivated prosecutions.

5. Fair Trial Rights and Legal Representation

The right to adequate legal representation must be protected. Lawyers should not face prosecution for defending their clients, and cases against legal professionals should be independently reviewed to prevent abuse of prosecutorial powers. The independence of bar associations must be safeguarded, ensuring they can operate without government interference. Courts must also recognise and reject indictments that rely solely on secret witness testimony, as such evidence lacks transparency and undermines the right to a fair trial.

6. Accountability and International Oversight

Turkey’s judicial system must be held accountable for its violations of fundamental rights. The European Union, Council of Europe, and United Nations should continue to monitor Turkey’s compliance with ECtHR rulings and apply diplomatic pressure where necessary. An independent commission should be established to review wrongful convictions related to freedom of expression cases, with reparations offered to those who have suffered legal persecution.

PEN Norway’s Indictment Report 2025 contains the following indictments analysis and articles:


  • Legal Report on Indictment: Cengiz Çandar by Barbara Spinelli
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Sedef Kabaş (by Ezio Menzione)
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Ekrem İmamoğlu (by Tony Fisher) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Şebnem Korur Fincancı (by Helen Duffy) 
  • Kurdish Press Under Judicial Pressure (Interview with Lawyer Resul Temur) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: 18 Kurdish Journalist (by Şerife Ceren Uysal) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Dicle Müftüoğlu (by Ezio Menzione)  
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Abdurrahman Gök (by Şerife Ceren Uysal)  
  • Article: Turkey’s Journalists in the Firing Line for ‘Targeting officials’ (by Şerife Ceren Uysal) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Ayça Söylemez (by Florian Bohsung)  
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Fırat Can Arslan (by Heidi Heggdal) 
  • Istanbul Bar Association Under Threat! Interview with Lawyer Ezgi Şahin Yalvarıcı, member of the Istanbul Bar Association director’s board 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: 18 Lawyers Registered with the Istanbul Bar Association
    (by Gerrit Jan Pulles & Veya Ayra Mandapat) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Aryen Turan (by Gerrit Jan Pulles & Laura Vroom)  
  • Article: Another Barrier for Journalism: “The Disinformation Law”  
  • Article: Agents of Influence Bill: A Path to Mass Criminalisation (by Burcu Karakas) 
  • Article: “Every Voice That Breaks Through These Four Walls Turns Into a Resounding Echo of Freedom” 
  • Interview with Yıldız Tar, imprisoned Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org  

About PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project

PEN Norway has since 2020 studied more than 30 indictments in the cases of journalists and civil society figures who had been tried in Turkey. The work is being carried out by PEN Norway’s legal experts, in collaboration with international lawyers, judges and legal experts. The legal experts have compared the indictments to the requirements set out in Turkey’s Penal Code, and the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Guidelines for Prosecutors. The findings illustrates that the indictments do not meet national or international legal standards. 

Based on the alarmin report findings, PEN Norway develop a set of guidelines to support prosecutors in the indictment prcess. Our Guidelines on Indictment Writing for Prosecutors is a practical tool for prosecutors to ensure that the investigation process is fair, well-reasoned, consistent and aligned with the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, which is among the duties of prosecutors. 

Other reports in the Indictment Project: 

Question about the reports or PEN Norway’s Turkey work? Contact us:



CAROLINE STOCKFORD
Turkey advisor
caroline@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


CEREN UYSAL
Legal Advisor
ceren@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


SIRI BERGE ENGERUD
Communications Advisor
siri@norskpen.no
Languages: Norwegian, English

Related news: 

Støtten til sivilsamfunnet i Tyrkia må styrkes

Brev til EU:/av Siri Berge Engerud

Ny tiltale-rapport fra Norsk PEN: Urettferdig rettsprosess for ytrere

Tyrkia-rapport:/av Siri Berge Engerud

Store språkmangler i rettssystemet: “Kurdisk er ikke et språk i Tyrkia”

Ny Tyrkia-rapport:/av Siri Berge Engerud

Report: Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey

PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project Report 2025

Istanbuls ordfører İmamoğlu i retten – Norsk PEN var til stede

Tyrkia: /av Siri Berge Engerud
Last inn flere
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Report: Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey

Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey Report  


PEN Norway has examined the use of the Kurdish language in legal cases and court room in Turkey. Our report findings illustrate that few Kurdish speakers were allowed to use their mother tongue. 


Four out of five Kurdish speakers report on discrimination in Court cases 


PEN Norway’s report, Kurdish Linguistic Rights in Courtrooms in Turkey, has examined the possibility for Kurdish speakers to use their native language in court cases. A total of 226 Kurdish-speaking journalists, writers, and civil society actors participated in the study. The Kurds are the largest ethnic and linguistic minority in Turkey. For decades, they have been denied the right to their own language and identity in public spheres.


Read the report (English)

Read the report (Turkish)

Recommendations:

1. It is recommended by PEN Norway that the authorities in Turkey establish an independent body to train, examine (bi-annually) and maintain a register of qualified interpreters in Kurdish-Turkish legal interpreting. Serious attempts should be made to ensure gender balance on said register.

2. We further recommend that courses be offered not only in Kurdish and Turkish legal interpreting, but for all languages supported in the courts in Turkey. An example is PEN Norway’s workshop held in conjunction between TOHAV (Toplum ve Hukuk Araştırma Vakfı) beginning 14 October, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, in which 15 interpreters received 12 training sessions focusing on the law in general, on sight translation, Turkish-Kurdish and Kurdish-Turkish written, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, as well as an initial lecture on ethics and impartiality in relation to courtroom interpreting.

3. We further recommend that a committee of experts should be established to assess the need for an independent institution to initiate and oversee examinations for a qualification in interpreting and translating in the courtroom.

4. It is recommended that the UK’s Institute of Linguists and its DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting) is taken as a model and that care is taken and investment made to consult and to begin to implement such a system via an independent institution in Turkey.

5. We would recommend that, whilst the Kurdish language remains such a source for discrimination in the judicial system, steps are taken to further protect and ensure the rights of its speakers in the courts at every level in Turkey, either by way of the establishment of a category for signatories to the Charter on Regional or Minority Languages that can be signed (and on examination, current signatories have the option to ‘select’ the categories they wish to implement) by member states of the Council of Europe rather than only the EU, or by way of more stringent articles being added to existing legislation in order to address the lack of regulation of interpreting in the courtrooms in Turkey.

6. We would recommend that the authorities in Turkey enter into dialogue with the relevant offices in the Council of Europe’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations in order to discuss funding and training for such crucial reforms in the securing of linguistic rights within the judicial system in Turkey

Report findings:


  • 99% of defendants surveyed were not informed by the police taking their initial statements (so many of which go on to constitute the basis of entire indictments) of their right to give their statements in their first language
  • Prior to their giving a statement, the charges were not explained to 62% of defendants surveyed in their first language, or in a language that they could best understand
  • 52% of defendants surveyed expressed the wish to use their first language (either during the giving of their statement or during their trial). However, 63% of those requesting was denied
  • 78% of defendants surveyed did not think the interpreter accurately conveyed their statements (spoken testimony) to the court
  • 68% of the defendants surveyed stated that the judge made remarks about their request to use Kurdish, many of which, when one looks at the narrative answers, were derogatory, referring to Kurdish at best as an ‘unknown language’
  • The court documents were not explained to 99% of defendants surveyed in their first and best-known language.
  • 53% of defendants surveyed were advised to forgo an interpreter in order to speed up proceedings.
  • 47% of defendants believed that an inadequacy in being able to understand or being understood affected the outcome of the trial.

Read the full report here

About PEN Norway’s Turkey work

The situation for freedom of expression in Turkey has deteriorated over the past ten years, with an increasing number of arrests of journalists, writers, lawyers, and other civil society actors. PEN Norway has worked to promote freedom of expression and rule of law  in Turkey for over 30 years, in close collaboration with local partners.

PEN Norway’s work focuses particularly on rule of law for journalists , writers and other civil society actors, through research, capacity building, and advocacy work. This includes observing and monitoring relevant trials freedom, studying indictments in collaboration with legal experts, building capacity of legal professionals, and supporting persons that has been silenced or imprisoned for using their exercising free expression.

Read more about PEN Norway’s work in Turkey

Questions about the report or PEN Norway’s Turkey work? Contact us:



CAROLINE STOCKFORD
Turkey advisor
caroline@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


CEREN UYSAL
Legal Advisor
ceren@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


SIRI BERGE ENGERUD
Communications Advisor
siri@norskpen.no
Languages: Norwegian, English

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PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project Report 2025

PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project Report 2025  


PEN Norway’s third Turkey Indictment Report illustrates that indictments against journalists, lawyers and other civil society actors in Turkey have significant legal deficiencies, which can contribute to an unfair outcome. 


None of the indictments meet national and international legal standards


In collaboration with lawyers, judges and legal experts from Turkey and Europe, PEN Norway has studied 11 indictments against journalists, lawyers, and civil society actors in over the past three years. That includes the indictments against Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, professor and doctor Şebnem Korur Fincancı. None of the indictments meet national and international legal standards. In addition, the report includes articles on the state of rule of law and freedom of expression in the country.   


Read the report (in English)

Read the report (in Turkish)

Recommendations:

1. Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law

The independence of the judiciary and prosecution service must be restored to ensure fair trials and prevent politically motivated indictments. The Council of Judges and Prosecutors should operate independently of the executive branch, with transparent appointment processes that prioritise legal expertise and integrity over political loyalty. Furthermore, judges and prosecutors must be protected from government interference and public pressure to rule in a particular manner.

2. Reforming Indictment Practices

The indictment process in Turkey must be overhauled to meet both domestic legal standards and international human rights obligations. Prosecutors must ensure that each indictment contains clear, specific, and well-supported allegations, directly linking the evidence to the alleged crime. The use of copy-pasted content from unrelated cases must cease, and judicial authorities should reject indictments that fail to meet basic legal requirements. Additionally, the presumption of innocence must be upheld by preventing government officials and pro-government media from making prejudicial statements about ongoing cases.

3. Freedom of Expression and Press Protection

The criminalisation of journalism must end. Articles 299 (insulting the President) and 301 (denigrating the state) of the Turkish Penal Code should be repealed or significantly amended in line with international human rights standards. Anti-terror laws (TMK) must be reformed to distinguish between legitimate journalistic activities and genuine threats to public security. Furthermore, all ongoing prosecutions against journalists, writers, and activists for peaceful expression should be immediately dismissed, and past convictions should be reviewed for potential miscarriages of justice.

4. Prosecutorial Training and Legal Education Reform

A critical step toward judicial reform is comprehensive training for prosecutors to improve the quality and fairness of indictments. Many of the flaws identified in this report stem from a lack of adherence to procedural law and best practices in indictment writing. PEN Norway’s Guidelines on Indictment Writing for Prosecutors in Turkey provide a clear framework for improving the structure, content, and evidentiary basis of indictments. These guidelines should be integrated into formal legal education and ongoing professional training for prosecutors. Additionally, the development of a standardised indictment template, aligned with both Turkey’s Procedural Code and international legal principles, would help ensure consistency and legal clarity. Training programmes should also address the ethical responsibilities of prosecutors, including the importance of impartiality, respect for due process, and the avoidance of politically motivated prosecutions.

5. Fair Trial Rights and Legal Representation

The right to adequate legal representation must be protected. Lawyers should not face prosecution for defending their clients, and cases against legal professionals should be independently reviewed to prevent abuse of prosecutorial powers. The independence of bar associations must be safeguarded, ensuring they can operate without government interference. Courts must also recognise and reject indictments that rely solely on secret witness testimony, as such evidence lacks transparency and undermines the right to a fair trial.

6. Accountability and International Oversight

Turkey’s judicial system must be held accountable for its violations of fundamental rights. The European Union, Council of Europe, and United Nations should continue to monitor Turkey’s compliance with ECtHR rulings and apply diplomatic pressure where necessary. An independent commission should be established to review wrongful convictions related to freedom of expression cases, with reparations offered to those who have suffered legal persecution.

PEN Norway’s Indictment Report 2025 contains the following indictments analysis and articles:


  • Legal Report on Indictment: Cengiz Çandar by Barbara Spinelli
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Sedef Kabaş (by Ezio Menzione)
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Ekrem İmamoğlu (by Tony Fisher) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Şebnem Korur Fincancı (by Helen Duffy) 
  • Kurdish Press Under Judicial Pressure (Interview with Lawyer Resul Temur) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: 18 Kurdish Journalist (by Şerife Ceren Uysal) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Dicle Müftüoğlu (by Ezio Menzione)  
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Abdurrahman Gök (by Şerife Ceren Uysal)  
  • Article: Turkey’s Journalists in the Firing Line for ‘Targeting officials’ (by Şerife Ceren Uysal) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Ayça Söylemez (by Florian Bohsung)  
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Fırat Can Arslan (by Heidi Heggdal) 
  • Istanbul Bar Association Under Threat! Interview with Lawyer Ezgi Şahin Yalvarıcı, member of the Istanbul Bar Association director’s board 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: 18 Lawyers Registered with the Istanbul Bar Association
    (by Gerrit Jan Pulles & Veya Ayra Mandapat) 
  • Legal Report on Indictment: Aryen Turan (by Gerrit Jan Pulles & Laura Vroom)  
  • Article: Another Barrier for Journalism: “The Disinformation Law”  
  • Article: Agents of Influence Bill: A Path to Mass Criminalisation (by Burcu Karakas) 
  • Article: “Every Voice That Breaks Through These Four Walls Turns Into a Resounding Echo of Freedom” 
  • Interview with Yıldız Tar, imprisoned Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org  

About PEN Norway’s Turkey Indictment Project

PEN Norway has since 2020 studied more than 30 indictments in the cases of journalists and civil society figures who had been tried in Turkey. The work is being carried out by PEN Norway’s legal experts, in collaboration with international lawyers, judges and legal experts. The legal experts have compared the indictments to the requirements set out in Turkey’s Penal Code, and the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Guidelines for Prosecutors. The findings illustrates that the indictments do not meet national or international legal standards. 

Based on the alarmin report findings, PEN Norway develop a set of guidelines to support prosecutors in the indictment prcess. Our Guidelines on Indictment Writing for Prosecutors is a practical tool for prosecutors to ensure that the investigation process is fair, well-reasoned, consistent and aligned with the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, which is among the duties of prosecutors. 

Other reports in the Indictment Project: 

Question about the reports or PEN Norway’s Turkey work? Contact us:



CAROLINE STOCKFORD
Turkey advisor
caroline@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


CEREN UYSAL
Legal Advisor
ceren@norskpen.no
Languages: English, Turkish


SIRI BERGE ENGERUD
Communications Advisor
siri@norskpen.no
Languages: Norwegian, English

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