Prosecutor seeks 23 years prison sentence for Altan MP
Prosecutor seeks 23 years prison sentence for Altan MP
The persecution of Kurdish politicians never ends. While the so called KCK trial is underway for two years, every day some prosecutor finds reasons (or rather excuses) to bring Kurdish politicians to court. This time a Diyarbakýr prosecutor has filed a lawsuit against Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Altan Tan. The prosecutor is seeking up to 23 years and six months in jail for the deputy. The reason? Making propaganda of a terrorist organization, violating the law on street demonstrations and committing a crime on behalf of a terrorist group. Which is more or less became the accusation given to everybody as it is obviously so vague to include saying the title "Mr" before the name of PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Or, as in the case of artist Farquin, the word "welcome" directed at the peace groups coming from Maxmur refugee camp. In other words under the title "disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization" can go virtually everything, including speaking about peace.
As to the indictment filed by the Diyarbakýr Prosecutor’s Office, it says Tan was at a demonstration held in protest of the deaths of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas last May and accuses the deputy of disseminating PKK propaganda during the demonstration. To strenghten his case, the prosecutor also added that the deputy attended the funeral of a guerrilla and that the deputy marched with a pro-PKK group, which chanted slogans in support of the PKK.
Not happy with that the indictment also says during an election rally he organized in Diyarbakýr in May, participants chanted slogans in support of the PKK and its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan and Tan did not warn them. The prosecutor accused Tan of abetting the crime.
So these are the 'crimes' according to the strict prosecutor.
The problem is that the indictment calls for up to 23 years, six months in jail for Tan on these three separate cases. The Diyarbakýr 7th High Criminal Court will soon begin hearing the case against Tan.
It is of little confort to know that even if convicted Tan will not go to prison (while his colleagues deputies are) because being a MP grants him immunity. The point is that the systematical prosecution of Kurdish politicians and activists actually endangered the path to peace as it prevented the politicians to do their work in a proper environment.
As to the indictment filed by the Diyarbakýr Prosecutor’s Office, it says Tan was at a demonstration held in protest of the deaths of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas last May and accuses the deputy of disseminating PKK propaganda during the demonstration. To strenghten his case, the prosecutor also added that the deputy attended the funeral of a guerrilla and that the deputy marched with a pro-PKK group, which chanted slogans in support of the PKK.
Not happy with that the indictment also says during an election rally he organized in Diyarbakýr in May, participants chanted slogans in support of the PKK and its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan and Tan did not warn them. The prosecutor accused Tan of abetting the crime.
So these are the 'crimes' according to the strict prosecutor.
The problem is that the indictment calls for up to 23 years, six months in jail for Tan on these three separate cases. The Diyarbakýr 7th High Criminal Court will soon begin hearing the case against Tan.
It is of little confort to know that even if convicted Tan will not go to prison (while his colleagues deputies are) because being a MP grants him immunity. The point is that the systematical prosecution of Kurdish politicians and activists actually endangered the path to peace as it prevented the politicians to do their work in a proper environment.
