Trial for Education in Mother Tongues

Tunceli Bar's head Huseyin Aygun is standing trial along with 14 others for chanting slogans. Lawyer Aygun, who faces up to five years in prison if found guilty, is charged with "insulting the republic," and "praising an act defined as crime by law."

Lawyer Ozgur Ulas Kaplan, who is representing Aygun in the trial, attended the hearing Tuesday. The court ordered the arrest in absentia of two defendants in order to get them testify. The next hearing will be held on July 16.

During the Newroz celebrations in Tunceli on March 21, 2002, many students and youth were detained or arrested by State Security Courts for petitioning for optional classes in mother tongues. Following the incident, many people gave speeches on the issue and chanted slogans.

Aygun is accused with getting crowds chant slogans. However, the lawyer says he just gave a speech about students who wanted to take classes in mother tongues. He underlines the fact that the constitutional amendments provide for a legal basis, and argues arresting students for petitioning is against the constitution.

Meanwhile, a Turkish court decided to abate the interrogation opened against Aygun for an article titled, "They Have Been Missing For 10 Years," published in a newspaper owned by the lawyer on February 9, 2004. The interrogation was launched with the complaint of the governor's office in Tunceli.

Aygun also stood trial at the Malatya State Security Court in 2002 for "aiding PKK." He was acquitted. (EO/EA/YE))