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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Jan 19 2015
Court lifts travel ban on Perinçek ahead of Strasbourg trial on
`genocide' denial
A Turkish court ruled on Monday to lift a travel ban on a Turkish
ultranationalist politician ahead of a European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR) hearing on the denial of an alleged Armenian genocide in 1915.
According to a statement released by the ultranationalist Workers'
Party (Ä°P), the travel ban imposed on its leader, DoÄ?ru Perinçek, as
part of a domestic coup case has been unanimously lifted by the
Ä°stanbul 4th High Criminal Court, and he will be able to attend the
hearing scheduled to take place on Jan. 28.
`The travel ban on our chairman imposed due to the Ergenekon case has
been lifted unanimously by the court upon our appeal. Now, the [next
step] is [for] the historical case in Strasbourg to finalize the lie
of Armenian genocide,' it said in the statement.
Ä°P leader Perinçek won an appeal at the European court against a Swiss
court decision to convict him for branding the claims of Armenian
genocide an `international lie' during a series of speeches in
Switzerland in 2007. The court said in its Dec. 17, 2013, decision,
which was hailed by Turkey, that the politician had exercised his
right to free speech.
Switzerland, on the other hand, asked the ECtHR to review its
decision. The Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg-based court is now due
to review its earlier verdict on Jan. 28.
The Ergenekon case, which is why there is a travel ban on Perinçek, is
being heard by the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals; however, the
Ä°stanbul court ruled to lift the travel ban, saying Perinçek's
appearance at the ECtHR is of importance.
The court, underlining the closing date of the hearing, stated that
the Ä°P chairman's attendance at the hearing is of deep interest to
Turkey, particularly regarding the ECtHR's stance on Turkey's thesis
on the 1915 events.
Days before the court made its decision to lift Perinçek's travel ban,
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said he wished that the
politician would be able to attend the hearing in Strasbourg.
`This is a matter that should be decided by the Supreme Court of
Appeals. We, as Turkey, are a party to this case. For me, Perinçek
should attend the hearing. But the decision will be made by the
court,' he had said back on Jan.9.
Perinçek was convicted in Turkey of being a member of Ergenekon, a
network described by a court as an armed terrorist organization bent
on overthrowing the government through a coup. He was released from
prison in March 2014, and his travel ban has remained in force until
now.
Turkey categorically denies the claims of Armenian genocide, saying
there were deaths on both sides when Armenians revolted against the
Ottoman Empire during the years of World War I to create their own
state in collaboration with the Russian forces then invading eastern
Anatolia.
The European court said in its December 2013 decision that the `free
exercise of the right to openly discuss questions of a sensitive and
controversial nature was one of the fundamental aspects of freedom of
expression and distinguished a tolerant and pluralistic democratic
society from a totalitarian or dictatorial regime."
Turkey has welcomed the ruling and said it expects the court to uphold
its judgment when its Grand Chamber reviews it.
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_court-lifts-travel-ban-on-perincek-ahead-of-strasbourg-trial-on-genocide-denial_370273.html
From: Baghdasarian
Jan 19 2015
Court lifts travel ban on Perinçek ahead of Strasbourg trial on
`genocide' denial
A Turkish court ruled on Monday to lift a travel ban on a Turkish
ultranationalist politician ahead of a European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR) hearing on the denial of an alleged Armenian genocide in 1915.
According to a statement released by the ultranationalist Workers'
Party (Ä°P), the travel ban imposed on its leader, DoÄ?ru Perinçek, as
part of a domestic coup case has been unanimously lifted by the
Ä°stanbul 4th High Criminal Court, and he will be able to attend the
hearing scheduled to take place on Jan. 28.
`The travel ban on our chairman imposed due to the Ergenekon case has
been lifted unanimously by the court upon our appeal. Now, the [next
step] is [for] the historical case in Strasbourg to finalize the lie
of Armenian genocide,' it said in the statement.
Ä°P leader Perinçek won an appeal at the European court against a Swiss
court decision to convict him for branding the claims of Armenian
genocide an `international lie' during a series of speeches in
Switzerland in 2007. The court said in its Dec. 17, 2013, decision,
which was hailed by Turkey, that the politician had exercised his
right to free speech.
Switzerland, on the other hand, asked the ECtHR to review its
decision. The Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg-based court is now due
to review its earlier verdict on Jan. 28.
The Ergenekon case, which is why there is a travel ban on Perinçek, is
being heard by the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals; however, the
Ä°stanbul court ruled to lift the travel ban, saying Perinçek's
appearance at the ECtHR is of importance.
The court, underlining the closing date of the hearing, stated that
the Ä°P chairman's attendance at the hearing is of deep interest to
Turkey, particularly regarding the ECtHR's stance on Turkey's thesis
on the 1915 events.
Days before the court made its decision to lift Perinçek's travel ban,
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt ÇavuÅ?oÄ?lu said he wished that the
politician would be able to attend the hearing in Strasbourg.
`This is a matter that should be decided by the Supreme Court of
Appeals. We, as Turkey, are a party to this case. For me, Perinçek
should attend the hearing. But the decision will be made by the
court,' he had said back on Jan.9.
Perinçek was convicted in Turkey of being a member of Ergenekon, a
network described by a court as an armed terrorist organization bent
on overthrowing the government through a coup. He was released from
prison in March 2014, and his travel ban has remained in force until
now.
Turkey categorically denies the claims of Armenian genocide, saying
there were deaths on both sides when Armenians revolted against the
Ottoman Empire during the years of World War I to create their own
state in collaboration with the Russian forces then invading eastern
Anatolia.
The European court said in its December 2013 decision that the `free
exercise of the right to openly discuss questions of a sensitive and
controversial nature was one of the fundamental aspects of freedom of
expression and distinguished a tolerant and pluralistic democratic
society from a totalitarian or dictatorial regime."
Turkey has welcomed the ruling and said it expects the court to uphold
its judgment when its Grand Chamber reviews it.
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_court-lifts-travel-ban-on-perincek-ahead-of-strasbourg-trial-on-genocide-denial_370273.html
From: Baghdasarian