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Religious Intelligence Ltd, UK
Feb 9 2007
Concerns grow over Turkey rights
Friday, 9th February 2007. 3:06pm
By: Matthew Cresswell.
TWO TURKISH Christians are facing trial in Istanbul for `insulting'
their nationality and reviling Islam.
Meanwhile heightened security surrounds Silivri where the trial is
unfolding in light of the recent assination of Turkish Christian
journalist Hrant Dink - murdered in Istanbul by a teenage
nationalist.
The two men, Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal, are facing criminal
charges for insulting their Turkish identity under the nation's
Article 301. Heading up the team of opposition lawyers was
ultranationalist attornet Kemal Kerincsiz - known for hounding Dink
who spoke against the government's silencing of the 1915 Armenian
genocide.
Both converts from Islam, Tastan and Topal are also being accused of
reviling Islam, under Article 216, and for compiling private data on
Turkish citizens for a correspondence course, Article 135.
One accuser was Fatih Kose, aged 23, who gave an account of when he
had allegedly heard `illegal' statements from the two defendants. But
defence lawyer Haydar Polat told Compass News his testimony was very
`contradictory', which angered the judge hearing the case.
It was also unclear as to why the other two accusers, two teenage
boys, were unable to testify.
The court was told that they had not received permission from school,
but this was questionable as Turkey's schools were currently on
vacation. The next hearing will be on April 18.
Feb 9 2007
Concerns grow over Turkey rights
Friday, 9th February 2007. 3:06pm
By: Matthew Cresswell.
TWO TURKISH Christians are facing trial in Istanbul for `insulting'
their nationality and reviling Islam.
Meanwhile heightened security surrounds Silivri where the trial is
unfolding in light of the recent assination of Turkish Christian
journalist Hrant Dink - murdered in Istanbul by a teenage
nationalist.
The two men, Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal, are facing criminal
charges for insulting their Turkish identity under the nation's
Article 301. Heading up the team of opposition lawyers was
ultranationalist attornet Kemal Kerincsiz - known for hounding Dink
who spoke against the government's silencing of the 1915 Armenian
genocide.
Both converts from Islam, Tastan and Topal are also being accused of
reviling Islam, under Article 216, and for compiling private data on
Turkish citizens for a correspondence course, Article 135.
One accuser was Fatih Kose, aged 23, who gave an account of when he
had allegedly heard `illegal' statements from the two defendants. But
defence lawyer Haydar Polat told Compass News his testimony was very
`contradictory', which angered the judge hearing the case.
It was also unclear as to why the other two accusers, two teenage
boys, were unable to testify.
The court was told that they had not received permission from school,
but this was questionable as Turkey's schools were currently on
vacation. The next hearing will be on April 18.