On Monday, 27th June 2016, Estonian author Kaur Kender got his court order. He is forced to undergo a psychiatric assessment. The main question in the document from the court, signed by the judge, basically is whether he at the time of the crime was able to understand what he was doing. Furthermore, does he have mental disorders, does he need treatment. Prosecutor's wording implies that Kender is guilty before the verdict, guilty until proven innocent, apparently.

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He wrote a transgressive novella. Yes, it has very graphic descriptions of children in pornographic situations. Yes, he knew what he was doing. He turns his text, his mirror on the world, to show the parts most of us do not want to deal with.

 

The prosecutor insists it's child pornography. She wants him convicted for production of child pornography. Interesting enough, over 99 per cent of those prosecuted get convicted in Estonia. So she seems to be safe whatever aspect is added to the case.

 

However, in all of its absurdity, it is all very interesting.

 

The prosecutor and the judge seem not to understand the full meaning of the literature. They seem to have no clue. Or their clue is just different from the common civilised clue.

 

It will be utterly interesting to see how far the case will go. Especially how far the Estonian prosecution system will take the case, possibly heading for the European Court of Human Rights ( a few steps still before that, though).

 

Right now they are going to put away an author in a mental institution, for a book he wrote. To watch him. At the same time they are watching literature, classical literature, transgressive literature, too see what is wrong with it, and with those who seem to understand. 

 

Since Kaur Kender does not agree to the assessment, it means "they" can pick him up at any time, and just within 24 hours inform his next of kin of his whereabouts.

 

Waiting for them to come and take you away. It's been 7 weeks of waiting what will happen, since the court decided to go along this road of psychiatric assessment. And still waiting, not knowing when they are coming.

 

Wouldn't it make you careful of what you write?