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| Europe |
| Belgium Annuls Decision To Extradite Terrorist |
| 2003-04-01 |
| The Belgian Council of State annulled on Monday the decision to extradite terrorist Fehriye Erdal, one of assailants of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci assassination. The Belgian Interior Ministry had decided to extradite Erdal. The Council of State listened to views of the lawyers of the terrorist and the prosecutor on March 20 and said that it would later announce its decision. The Belgian Council of State said that it acted from the view that it had not been proved that the terrorist posed a threat for public security in Belgium as claimed by the Interior Ministry. She just killed Turks, so Belgiums have nothing to fear Erdal, one of the assailants of the assassination of Sabanci Holding Automotive Group Chairman Ozdemir Sabanci, Toyota-Sa General Director Haluk Gorgun and secretary Nilgun Hasefe on January 9, 1996, was captured in Belgium with a false passport in the name of Nese Yildirim on September 26, 1999. Belgium had rejected Turkey's request for Erdal's extradition due to existence of death sentence in laws and at the same time returned political asylum application of the terrorist. I thought that Turkey had renounced the death penalty as part of their application to join the EU? Murat? After serving a year in prison, Erdal was taken under house arrest and is waiting to be tried on charges of crimes she committed in Belgium. Carrying a gun, taking part in activities of a crime gang and using false identity are among these crimes. No danger to Belgium at all. The Belgian Interior Ministry had passed a decree against Erdal's political asylum request two years ago and demanded Erdal's extradition by saying that this person posed a threat for the security of the country. At least they seem not to have lost their minds. The terrorist firstly applied to the Council of State and provided the suspension of the decision. But, she could not seek asylum again since the mentioned decision was on the agenda and was not annulled. Today's decision of the Council of State gives the right to the terrorist to seek political asylum under the auspices of the United Nations (U.N.) High Commissioner for Refugees. Oh ya, they'll do....something Judicial sources say that Belgian Interior Minister Antoine Duquesne can take a new extradition decision regarding Erdal. Interior Ministry officials said that the decision of the Council of State has not officially been notified yet and added that they will make an evaluation after the decision is notified. "We have to kill a goat and examine the entrails. We'll get back to you." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #5 They'd have jailed her if she'd been Israeli. Or Jewish. Or American. Apparently, that's what it takes to be a criminial in Belgium. |
| Posted by: Meryl Yourish 2003-04-01 21:10:11 |
| #4 Eben Emael rings a bell.............. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-01 18:57:45 |
| #3 The Turks are discovering that having Belgium for an ally is like not having an ally. Belgium - a speed bump on the invasion route to France. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-04-01 08:49:34 |
| #2 Turkey turned its back on the U.S. on the Iraq war, and in return it gets - this? A slap in the face from Belgium? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-01 08:37:24 |
| #1 Yes true, the death penalty has been renounced, although I don't support a death penalty, rapers and terrorist could have been exceptions. |
| Posted by: Murat 2003-04-01 08:31:46 |