The Turkish state had demanded the extradition of human rights defender Ethem Acikalin, forced to live in exile in Switzerland, but the country rejected the demand and said an extradition is “out of the question”.
The AKP regime has been engaged in an unprecedented campaign of pressure against human rights defenders domestically, while continuing to spread the pressure abroad.
The Turkish state has most recently demanded the extradition of former Adana Human Rights Association (IHD) Chairperson Ethem Acikalin, who has been living as a political asylum seeker in Switzerland since 2010, as per the European Convention on Extradition.
SENTENCED TO OVER 20 YEARS IN PRISON
Acikalin had been put on trial in various cases for his work with the Adana chapter of the IHD and had consequently been sentenced.
The Adana Heavy Penal Court ruled Acikalin’s efforts in protecting human rights to be indicative of terrorist organization membership and sentenced Acikalin to over 20 years in prison in several cases.
FEDERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE: EXTRADITION IS OUT OF THE QUESTION
Acikalin was forced to leave Turkey due to pressure, threats and convictions and has been living in Switzerland as a political asylum seeker since 2010.
The Turkish state has pursued Acikalin in Switzerland as well, and demanded his extradition. The Switzerland Federal Prosecutor’s Office took the extradition request signed by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor Ibrahim Buyukbas and rejected it, citing that Acikalin’s extradition is out of the question after taking into consideration Swiss domestic laws and international laws on the matter.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s extradition request came at a time when the IHD Switzerland Chapter was about to be opened under the lead of Acikalin, who had recently announced the new chapter alongside a group of human rights defenders.
