Request for Red Notice Against Writer, Publisher Zarakolu

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Writer and publisher Ragıp Zarakolu, who was arrested in October 2011 on charge of "aiding and abetting a terrorist organization" and released in April 2012, has been facing a prison sentence of five to 15 years.

The reason for the charge brought against Zarakolu was the statement which he made at the opening of the Peace and Democracy Party's (BDP) Politics Academy.

Six years later, Zarakolu has been tried on the same charge by the İstanbul 3rd Heavy Penal Court.

On June 7, 2018, the court issued an arrest warrant against Ragıp Zarakolu, who has been living in Switzerland since December 2013, and ruled that he shall be brought to court by force on the ground that he did not attend the previous hearings.

The court also submitted a request to the Interpol, demanding that Zarakolu be sought with red notice.

"There is nothing to issue a red notice"

Speaking to bianet, Zarakolu's attorney Sennur Baybuğa has said,

"The court has ruled that Zarakolu shall be sought with red notice. Then, the verdict was sent to the Directorate General of International Foreign Affairs. Now, a response is being waited from the Interpol, but it has not given any response.

"There is nothing to issue a red notice. I have submitted the address of Zarakolu to the court and requested that he make his statement of defence through rogatory."

Baybuğa has also stated that his request has been rejected on the ground that rogatory cannot be implemented in such cases.

"Nothing other than disrespect and harassment"

Sending a message to bianet about the decision of red notice, Ragıp Zarakolu has said,

"The İstanbul Heavy Penal Court has issued an arrest warrant against me and ruled that I shall be sought with red notice by the Interpol and brought to court by force. It does not mean anything other than disrespect and harassment." (EKN/SD)