Karatepe and Ulusoy Cases at ECHR

Two more appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) dealing with human rights violations of Turkey are to be decided on tomorrow (31 July).

"Unfair trials"

Sükrü Karatepe, former mayor of Kayseri (central Anatolia), had been convicted of "inciting hatred and hostility" in several of his speeches while in office.

The second case concerns journalist Ziya Ulusoy, who had criticised the policies concerning the Kurdish issue as well as the state's and the security forces' indifference to the Sivas massacre. In 1993 the Madimak Hotel, in which Alevi intellectuals were meeting, was burnt down and 37 of them died in the fire. Ulusoy had been sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.

Both appeals are based on Article 6/1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and claim that there has not been a fair trial.

What is the ECHR?

The ECHR was founded in Strasbourg, France, in 1959 in order to ascertain violations of the European Convention on Human Rights (of 1950).

According to Article 43 of the Convention, in exceptional cases, appeals against decisions made by any court can be sent to the Grand Chamber within three months.

A five-person judges' panel then examines whether there have been mistakes in the application or interpretation of the Convention or connected protocols.

Should that be the case, the Grand Chamber makes a binding decision in the case. If there is no incongruity, the case is sent back. Then the ECHR makes a decision. (EÖ/NZ/AG)