Turkish author Nihat Genc criticizes Armenian conference, loses book contract

The recently delayed "Ottoman Armenians During the Collapse of the Empire" conference, which caused a storm of critcism around it, is responsible for a parting in paths of Turkish writer Nihat Genc and the Turkish Iletisim (Communications) Publishing House. Genc, who used his weekly column in the Aksam Newspaper to join in the chorus of criticism against the conference organizers, received word from the publishing house following his column that they would no longer be publishing his books. Genc: My ideas affected them In Genc's column yesterday in Aksam, the writer said this: "Iletisim has said that my books, which they have been publishing now for 12 years, will no longer be published by them. Oh well, that's their decision. If it were a matter of friendship, they would continue. But clearly my ideas affected them. The fact that they will no longer publish my books is a sign of their lack of respect for ideas."  Publishing house: Genc's writing becoming "fascist" in nature According to Iletisim Publishing House, the decision to discontinue the Genc's books was made by the board. A spokeperson for the publishing house said that their general feeling was the Genc's writing and commentaries were become more and more "fascist" and that they were uncomfortable with this. They defended their right to stop publishing Genc's work, and said it had nothing to do with his freedom of speech.  Nihat Genc has also indicated that his books, which were until now on sale at most Migros supermarkets, had been sent back to Iletisim Publishing. A spokesperson from Migros denied this however. Â