Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, whose books are published in 34 languages, goes on trial today accused of insulting his nation's identity in a case that may threaten Turkey's prospects of joining the European Union. Pamuk, who has said the country persecuted Armenians during World War I, is among 60 Turkish writers and publishers being prosecuted for their views. Should Istanbul's Sisli Court of First Instance find him guilty, Pamuk may be jailed for three years. European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn yesterday called the trial a ``litmus test'' of Turkey's commitment to the EU's criteria for membership. Existing laws don't provide sufficient protection for freedom of expression, he said.
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