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Netherlands prosecution demands punishment for inciting violence against Armenians

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The court trial took place—on Friday, in Almelo, the Netherlands—against Ilham Askin, Chairman of the Turkish Azerbaijani Cultural Association in The Hague.

Askin is prosecuted for having chanted, “Karabakh will be the grave of the Armenians,” during a Turkish rally in Almelo. With this statement, according to the prosecutor, he has incited violence against and has insulted a group of people because of their Armenian origin.

On  June 1, 2014, a Turkish demonstration took place in Almelo, and against the Armenian Genocide memorial that was erected on the yard of the Armenian Apostolic Church in this city. The Armenian community, namely the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) and the Dutch Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy (Hay Tad), had filed a police report against the statements made during this demonstration.

The court session in Almelo lasted for two hours. It was attended by many Armenians and Turks as well as Dutch, Armenian, and Turkish media. During the session a video clip of the demonstration was played, and which shows Askin chanting, “Karabakh will be the grave of the Armenians” several times, and a few thousand people repeating the chant.

Askin, who was assisted by attorney Plasman, answered questions by the court and the public prosecutor. He stated, however, that he does not consider his statements to be an offence. He said his expressions relate to a specific region where, due to the current situation, war will possibly break out and blood will be shed. He added that he has not done anything wrong. And when asked, he declared that he does not regret his statements.

The prosecutor extensively explained the process of examination of this case, and motioned for 80 hours of community service and a suspended imprisonment of two weeks with probation of two years, since a strong signal needs to be given. The prosecution’s motion also takes into consideration the fact that Ilham Askin did not show any insight into this case and that there is a danger of recidivism.

The court judgment is expected on March 17.

Turkey’s Main opposition head says Erdoğan is insisting on system change ‘out of fear of prosecution’

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DHA photo

The reason why President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is so insistent on shifting Turkey to a presidential system of governance is because he is afraid of being prosecuted and therefore wants to “secure his own future,” main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said.

“He is afraid of being tried. He knows that if he and his family are prosecuted, he will be convicted. Everybody knows this. Even his closest circle knows this. So he wants to secure his own future. He cares about his own future more than the people’s future,” said Kılıçdaroğlu in a Feb. 1 interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle’s Turkish service.

“The most successful leader is the one who makes others feel the need for him the least,” the CHP head said, adding that competent institutions should carry out the state’s duties rather than individuals.

“If you take all the power, this means you break down this structure. You only create an environment of chaos. No sensible person would want so much responsibility. All Erdoğan cares about is the thought: ‘What if I get prosecuted one day?’ His whole strategy is founded on this,” said Kılıçdaroğlu, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

He described the constitutional amendments set to be taken to the people in a referendum in April as a “regime change,” arguing that if such excessive responsibilities are handed over to the president a “totalitarian presidential system” will emerge.

“This is called a regime change,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.

Meanwhile, the CHP has decided to accelerate its preparations for the “no” campaign in the upcoming referendum. With four party deputies in particular – Deniz Baykal, Haluk Koç, Gürsel Tekin and Muharrem İnce – set to join campaigns throughout the country to promote a “no” vote for the charter amendments.

The party has also stated its intention to employ a “supra-party rhetoric” in its referendum campaign.

February/02/2017

Dink’s attorneys apply to ECHR demanding to resume prosecution of Turkish officials

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dink caseAttorneys of Hrant Dink, assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist, have filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Turkish court. The latter earlier decided to stop the prosecution of the officials linked with the investigation of Dink’s murder.

Dink’s attorneys also appealed to the Constitutional court, noting that those officials had to do with in the preparation of Dink’s murder.

Moreover, the attorneys noted that a number of officials weren’t involved in the investigation at all.

Turkey’s HDP opposition leader Selahattin Demirtas may face prosecution

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3c34c556-284e-4289-971b-d641c363f367The leader of the Turkish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas may face prosecution on charges of insulting Turkey’s president and inciting violence in the country.

On Wednesday, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir submitted a petition to Turkey’s Justice Ministry, demanding that Demirtas be taken to court over what was called offending Recep Tayyip Erdogan and spreading terror propaganda.

The prosecutor’s office, however, did not explain which of Demirtas’ words or actions were deemed as criminal.

The HDP leader has immunity as a member of the Turkish parliament, and thus the legislative body is required to vote on any possible investigation or prosecution in case the Turkish judiciary decides to sue him.

The petition came hours after Demirtas, a member of Turkey’s Kurdish community, warned the government in Ankara of the potential breakout of a civil war in the country, saying it is the people’s right to respond to those who attempt to burn their homes, businesses, and party buildings with “proportional” force.

“Everyone should use proportional means to defend themselves,” he said during a press conference in Diyarbakir, adding, “You have got to force them to regret what they do.”

Demirtas made the remarks following a night of nationalist protests in the capital, Ankara, and elsewhere, during which several HDP offices and shops belonging to Kurds were set on fire. The supporters of Erdogan also attacked the office of the country’s leading newspaper Hurriyet Daily News in Istanbul.

Turkish nationalists accuse the HDP of being the political wing of the militant group Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has recently been engaged in deadly clashes with the country’s army.

The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since the 1980s. The conflict has left tens of thousands of people dead.

There has been renewed conflict between the PKK and Turkish security forces since July when Turkey began launching airstrikes against purported Daesh targets in Syria as well as PKK positions in Iraq after a Daesh bomb attack left 32 people dead in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on July 20.

Source: presstv.com