Kurdish paper distributor sentenced to 12 years in prison
Kurdish paper distributor sentenced to 12 years in prison
Pro-Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat distributor Hikmet Karakuþ who was jailed on August 19, 2011 after being caught in the middle of a gunfight between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and People’s Defense Force (HPG) in the Ýksor Plateau of Dersim has been sentenced to 12 years on charges of helping an illegal organisation.
Karakuþ, who rejects the claims, says that the court did not take into consideration the documents proving he was a shepherd and lived in the Ýksor Plateau. Also, the prosecutor’s claims that he brought new members to the illegal organisation based on the fact that a new HPG member was caught in the gunfight was denied by Ulaþ Uyanýk who testified that it was himself who brought the mentioned person in.
Karakuþ believes that he is unlawfully arrested because his brother joined the HPG.
Karakuþ, who rejects the claims, says that the court did not take into consideration the documents proving he was a shepherd and lived in the Ýksor Plateau. Also, the prosecutor’s claims that he brought new members to the illegal organisation based on the fact that a new HPG member was caught in the gunfight was denied by Ulaþ Uyanýk who testified that it was himself who brought the mentioned person in.
Karakuþ believes that he is unlawfully arrested because his brother joined the HPG.
