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Turks Free 4 Kurds Whose Jailing Irked European Union
via NYTGee - think this might be related to the NATO story? Lol! Erdogan is such a dupe. Login: freenytimes freenytimes In a decision hailed by human rights advocates, a Turkish appeals court on Wednesday ordered the release of four Kurdish former members of Parliament who were convicted 10 years ago of belonging to an outlawed separatist movement. Among those freed was Leyla Zana, whose campaign for Kurdish rights made internationally known. The four were convicted of links to the Kurdish Workers Party; a hearing on their appeal is set for July 8. Amnesty International called on Turkey to drop the case altogether, saying the four Kurds were prosecuted only for their political beliefs. In an interview with Reuters after the release, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul predicted that the four would not return to jail. They have already served all but nine months of their sentences. In Brussels, GÃŒnter Verheugen, the European Unionâs commissioner for enlargement, said: "Todayâs decision is a sign that the implementation of political reforms, which Turkey has been introducing in the past two years, is gaining ground." Since the 1994 convictions, Turkey has made wholesale changes in its Constitution and laws in an effort to fulfill European Union conditions for starting accession talks at the end of this year. The special state security courts created for terrorism and treason cases were abolished last month. The official ban on playing Kurdish music and teaching the Kurdish language in schools has been lifted, and on Wednesday, state television broadcast its first-ever program of news and culture in Kurdish. As Mrs. Zana and her colleagues emerged from Ulucanlar prison in Ankara, they were mobbed by a crowd throwing flowers and shouting, "Turkey is proud of you!" Commentators spoke of the beginning of the end of a long national conflict over state recognition of Kurdish cultural and language rights. Later, Mrs. Zana said: "I believe that a new period has started in this country, and a new page is opened. Today is the day to unite, and today is the day that everyone frees himself and herself of all prejudices." How many times will Erdogan be an EU bridesmaid? As many times as he listens to Chirac, methinks. Good for the Kurds in Turkey, however, and on their behalf, thanks Tayyip! Lol! Posted by: .com 2004-06-10 |
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