YEREVAN.- Turkish human rights activist and publisher Ragip Zarakolu was one of the first to apologize to Armenians for the 1915 Genocide and continues struggle even being under custody, said friend of Zarakolu, public figure Sargis Hatspanyan (photos).

He considers the Armenian intellectuals should unite to express their support for Zarakolu who is in custody for already four months within the framework of KCK (Union of Communities in Kurdistan) case. At the moment Zarakolu and his son Deniz are in one cell and are writing books.

“Ragip was editing the book on the Armenian Genocide based on secret documents from German archives. The book was withdrawn during the arrest. He planned to publish it by April 24, 2012,” Hatspanyan said.

Several Swedish MPs have applied to the Nobel Peace Committee with the proposal to give the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to Zarakolu.

Ragip Zarakolu, who headed the Belge Publishing House, was charged for publishing Turkish translation of George Jerjian’s “The Truth Will Set Us Free: Armenians and Turks Reconciled” book.

Photo by Sona Barseghyan