Student Jailed for Remarks About PKK

A university student has been condemned to a 20-months imprisonment sentence because of his remarks about the pro-Kurdish guerilla group PKK, during a television programme. The court ruled that he made propaganda of the terrorist organization.

Erol Önderoğlu

A university student has been condemned to 20 months imprisonment because of a remark about the pro-Kurdish guerilla group PKK during a television programme last year.

"I'm of Kurdish descent; PKK is a consequence, not a cause" said Mehmet Emin Demir in Abbas Güçlü's programme, talking to Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Erkan Mumcu.

He was prosecuted on allegations of "making propaganda of terrorist organization and/or its aims", with reference to the article 220/8 of the Turkish Penal Code.

A police search at Demir's house resulted in confiscation of his computer and "forbidden material" such as two books by late PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Ankara High Criminal Court found Demir guilty of the alleged crime during a sitting last Friday.(EÖ/EÜ)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.