The Freedom for Öcalan poster circulating on the billboards in the Bern Central Train Station has disturbed the Turkish state. The embassy wanted the poster removed, but Switzerland rejected the demand due to freedom of expression.
“Freedom for Öcalan” posters had been put up in German on the giant billboards in the Bern Central Train Station in Switzerland as part of the freedom for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan demonstrations on Monday and Tuesday last week.
After the local press in the Bern canton published articles based on ANF's new story on the matter, the Turkish Embassy sprung into action and demanded the removal of the Freedom for Öcalan posters at once.
FOREIGN MINISTRY: “WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING”
According to newspaper 20 Minutes, the Bern Turkey Embassy contacted the Swiss Foreign Ministry and demanded the removal of the posters at once. The newspaper reported that the Foreign Ministry pointed to the Swiss laws and said they can’t do anything about the matter.
SBB: “FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION”
Meanwhile, the Swiss Railroads Company (SBB) Media Spokesperson Daniele Pallacchi stated that the train stations are public spaces, and that it must be accepted that political messages may be exhibited in train stations. Pallacchi said the removal of the Freedom for Öcalan posters would constitute censorship and that the matter should be considered completely within the bounds of freedom of expression.
