4 more minors handed jail sentences in Adana
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Ismail Saymaz
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 18, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL-Four more minors are sentenced to stiff prison terms in the southern province of Adana for participating in unsanctioned rallies in support of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party and throwing rocks at the police. A human rights activist is also charged for engaging in PKK propaganda.
Four more minors were sentenced to a total of 17.5 years in prison for throwing rocks at police in the southern province of Adana, taking the total number of minors sentenced in the province on similar charges to 84 and a combined jail time of 400 years and six months.
A human rights activist will also stand trial on charges of inciting public hatred and animosity.
The four minors were sentenced earlier this week for "committing a crime in the name of a terrorist organization and conducting propaganda for the organization." The charges stemmed from an incident on Feb. 15, 2007, when an unsanctioned protest was held in the city of Adana in support of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and slogans were chanted in praise of the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and rocks were thrown at police.
The eighth branch of Adana’s court for serious crimes handed down tougher terms to the four minors but then reduced them due to their age.
Meanwhile, charges were filed against Ethem Açıkalın, branch president of the Human Rights Association, or İHD, who has been monitoring in detail the legal situation of Kurdish minors involved in these situations. He was charged with "inciting hatred and animosity among the public" for speaking on Roj TV, a Denmark-based broadcaster thatis accused of being a mouthpiece for the PKK, on the situation of minors charged with PKK-related offenses and remarks by the province’s governor.
Critical of governor’s remarks
Last year Adana Gov. İlhan Atış Ğ in response to the increased number of minors participating in unsanctioned protests and engaging in serious clashes with police - suggested canceling the free health service cards belonging to the parents of those minors.
Açıkalın participated in a Roj TV program via telephone and was critical of Atış’s remarks. An investigation was launched to establish whether Açıkalın’s remarks constituted "propaganda for the PKK" but was later dropped due to lack of evidence. Following that Açıkalın was charged with "inciting hatred and animosity among the public." His opening trial session has been set for Oct. 17.
A human rights activist will also stand trial on charges of inciting public hatred and animosity.
The four minors were sentenced earlier this week for "committing a crime in the name of a terrorist organization and conducting propaganda for the organization." The charges stemmed from an incident on Feb. 15, 2007, when an unsanctioned protest was held in the city of Adana in support of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and slogans were chanted in praise of the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and rocks were thrown at police.
The eighth branch of Adana’s court for serious crimes handed down tougher terms to the four minors but then reduced them due to their age.
Meanwhile, charges were filed against Ethem Açıkalın, branch president of the Human Rights Association, or İHD, who has been monitoring in detail the legal situation of Kurdish minors involved in these situations. He was charged with "inciting hatred and animosity among the public" for speaking on Roj TV, a Denmark-based broadcaster thatis accused of being a mouthpiece for the PKK, on the situation of minors charged with PKK-related offenses and remarks by the province’s governor.
Critical of governor’s remarks
Last year Adana Gov. İlhan Atış Ğ in response to the increased number of minors participating in unsanctioned protests and engaging in serious clashes with police - suggested canceling the free health service cards belonging to the parents of those minors.
Açıkalın participated in a Roj TV program via telephone and was critical of Atış’s remarks. An investigation was launched to establish whether Açıkalın’s remarks constituted "propaganda for the PKK" but was later dropped due to lack of evidence. Following that Açıkalın was charged with "inciting hatred and animosity among the public." His opening trial session has been set for Oct. 17.