Investigation Launched Against Calling Imprisoned PKK Leader Respectable

An investigation has been launched against local newspaper “Demokrat Iskenderun for publishing the press release of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) during which the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, was referred as “respectable”.

Prosecutor’s Office for the province of İskenderun, where the press release was held, took the statement of Ersen Korkmaz, manager in-charge of the newspaper. Korkmaz’s statement was taken for the news titled “Ending the Imrali Prison and the implementations related to it should be taken seriously for the great contribution it will have for the social peace”, which had appeared on the November 18, 2008 issue of the newspaper.

Investigation against Aydıncı from the DTP

Giving his statement to Prosecutor Mustafa Tarsuslu on December 15, journalist Korkmaz said they were simply reporting this incident and they did not comment upon it.

Similarly, Mahmut Aydıncı, head of the Iskenderun branch of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), is facing an investigation under article 215, the crime of “praising crime and the criminal”, for addressing Öcalan using the term “esteemed”. The decision whether or not to file a lawsuit will be given after the statements are taken.

Journalist Korkmaz is on trial for publishing an article titled “Kurds’ leader was taken an delivered to the Fascists” after watching a panel by the Turkish Communist Party (TKP).

The case of Korkmaz and Necmettin Salaz, a TKP representative, who are accused of “insulting and ridiculing the military and the police” and facing three years in prison, will continue on December 26. (EÖ/TB)