CHP to carry Zirve trial to Parliament
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Main opposition CHP’s deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu is preparing to put forward questions in Parliament about why the Zirve massacre case has not progressed. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL
The Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre case will be on the agenda of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) when the new parliamentary term starts on Oct. 1.
CHP deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu is preparing to put forward questions in Parliament about why the case has not progressed yet and about the two judges and two prosecutors who were removed from duty on Sept. 1, two days before a critical hearing in the case.
The prosecutors and judges, who had been following the case for five years, were dismissed from the case and assigned to other duties due to the abolishment of the Law about Specially Authorized Courts as part of the third judicial package legislated by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.
Tanrıkulu told the Hürriyet Daily News that the dismissal of the judges and prosecutors would doubtless affect the case’s progress. “There is an indictment consisting of thousands of pages. Above all, they had been following the case for five years. That means some people do not want the case to be resolved,” Tanrıkulu said.
Three missionaries - German citizen Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel - were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
“From the Father Santoro murder committed in [the Black Sea province of] Trabzon to the Hrant Dink murder, and from the Zirve Publishing House massacre to the murder of a bishop in [the Mediterranean province of] İskenderun, all these murders display signs that they were committed by ultranationalists. It is clear that the deep state had a hand in these incidents, but the AKP does not try to shed light on them,” Tanrıkulu said.
He added that they were collecting data from the lawyers following the Zirve massacre case, and also working on a report that would be presented to Parliament.
Kurdish issue is a dilemma
Tanrıkulu also expressed his views on the Kurdish issue and the Heybeliada Halki seminary. He warned that abolishing the political immunity of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies would be of no use. “The Democratic Society Party (DEP) was closed in 1994, and its deputies were jailed, the result of this is evident. Abolishing the political immunities of BDP deputies would mean repeating the same mistake,” Tanrıkulu said. Tanrıkulu also said the CHP was ready to give any kind of support for the reopening of the Halki Seminary, but the AKP’s attitude toward the subject was not clear.“Politicians should leave prejudices aside and must immediately intervene [in the issue]. … Turkey is not on the right track in terms of either foreign policy or civil peace,” Tanrıkulu said.
September/12/2012
13 Eylül 2012 Perşembe
Christian group ‘will be’ OK with Brotherhood
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
A general view shows a damaged church in the neighbourhood of old Homs. REUTERS photo
A recently established council bringing together Syria’s Christian minority groups in Syria has no fear of a possible Muslim Brotherhood rule in the country, according to a prominent member.
“We want to live as equal citizens and with equal rights all over the Middle East, especially in Syria,” Bassam Ishak, leader of the Damascus-based Liberal Party, told the Hürriyet Daily News on behalf of the council after announcing the establishment of the “Syrian Syriac National Council” on Sept. 8.
Over 30 political parties, non-governmental organizations, and women’s organizations, including the European Syriac Union, the Syriac American Association and the Syriac Movement have joined together to form the council.
The council’s headquarters will be in Damascus, while another office is planned to be opened in Ankara.
Ishak, who is also a member of the Syrian National Council (SNC), said the council should not be seen as supporting one side in the Syrian conflict.
“The [Bashar] al-Assad regime is oppressive,” Ishak said. “We have no hesitation about the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule over the region; we are ready to support them. Along with this, we don’t want our council to be understood as a supporter of an opponent or a sided organization.
We will only convey our people’s democratic demands. Even though we support [the opposition], we are not for or against anyone. We will only fight for our people’s future.”
Importance of Istanbul
Declaring the council’s opening in Istanbul had great historic importance for its members, Ishak said. “A part of our people is still living here. Geographically, this is the closest location to Syria and the Anatolian territories where we have lived for thousands of years.”
Asked why the council plans to open an office in Turkey, Ishak said “Turkey is our neighbor, and also an example in terms of democracy, so we want to build good relations [with Turkey].” Although Syriac Christians have had painful experiences with Turkey in the past, they do not want to remain trapped in the past, he said.
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
A general view shows a damaged church in the neighbourhood of old Homs. REUTERS photo
A recently established council bringing together Syria’s Christian minority groups in Syria has no fear of a possible Muslim Brotherhood rule in the country, according to a prominent member.
“We want to live as equal citizens and with equal rights all over the Middle East, especially in Syria,” Bassam Ishak, leader of the Damascus-based Liberal Party, told the Hürriyet Daily News on behalf of the council after announcing the establishment of the “Syrian Syriac National Council” on Sept. 8.
Over 30 political parties, non-governmental organizations, and women’s organizations, including the European Syriac Union, the Syriac American Association and the Syriac Movement have joined together to form the council.
The council’s headquarters will be in Damascus, while another office is planned to be opened in Ankara.
Ishak, who is also a member of the Syrian National Council (SNC), said the council should not be seen as supporting one side in the Syrian conflict.
“The [Bashar] al-Assad regime is oppressive,” Ishak said. “We have no hesitation about the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule over the region; we are ready to support them. Along with this, we don’t want our council to be understood as a supporter of an opponent or a sided organization.
We will only convey our people’s democratic demands. Even though we support [the opposition], we are not for or against anyone. We will only fight for our people’s future.”
Importance of Istanbul
Declaring the council’s opening in Istanbul had great historic importance for its members, Ishak said. “A part of our people is still living here. Geographically, this is the closest location to Syria and the Anatolian territories where we have lived for thousands of years.”
Asked why the council plans to open an office in Turkey, Ishak said “Turkey is our neighbor, and also an example in terms of democracy, so we want to build good relations [with Turkey].” Although Syriac Christians have had painful experiences with Turkey in the past, they do not want to remain trapped in the past, he said.
Historical church to host 3rd divine liturgy
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Armenian Christians will go to the historic Surp Haç Church to pray today in celebration. AA photo
The historic Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Armenian Church-Museum, located on the eastern province of Van’s Akdamar Island, will hosti a religious ceremony for the third time with the Surp Haç (Holy Cross) liturgy on Sept. 9.
Along with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United States, people from Istanbul, Armenia and the diaspora are expected to attend the liturgy. Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan will lead the ceremony on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. The preparations for the ceremony have been continuing for the past month.
The historic church, which became a museum after being restored in 2007, was opened for a religious service for the first time in September 2010, when the Turkish government permitted Armenians to organize a religious ceremony in the church once a year.
Last year’s divine liturgy attracted fewer worshipers due to tensions between Turkey, Armenia and the diaspora over the lack of a cross atop Sur Haç.
The cross, which was made by Armenian craftsmen and delivered to Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate two years ago, was placed on top of the church dome with the approval of Turkey’s Culture Ministry just after the liturgy last year.
September/08/2012
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Armenian Christians will go to the historic Surp Haç Church to pray today in celebration. AA photo
The historic Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Armenian Church-Museum, located on the eastern province of Van’s Akdamar Island, will hosti a religious ceremony for the third time with the Surp Haç (Holy Cross) liturgy on Sept. 9.
Along with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United States, people from Istanbul, Armenia and the diaspora are expected to attend the liturgy. Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan will lead the ceremony on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. The preparations for the ceremony have been continuing for the past month.
The historic church, which became a museum after being restored in 2007, was opened for a religious service for the first time in September 2010, when the Turkish government permitted Armenians to organize a religious ceremony in the church once a year.
Last year’s divine liturgy attracted fewer worshipers due to tensions between Turkey, Armenia and the diaspora over the lack of a cross atop Sur Haç.
The cross, which was made by Armenian craftsmen and delivered to Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate two years ago, was placed on top of the church dome with the approval of Turkey’s Culture Ministry just after the liturgy last year.
September/08/2012
10 Eylül 2012 Pazartesi
Journalists tried in fresh wave of KCK case today
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News-Vercihan Ziflioğlu
As the third indictment involving several journalists in Kurdistan Communities Union case starts to be seen today, suspects and lawyers of the case complain about decreasing public interest in the hearings
Prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu is on his way to visit his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case in Silivri Prison.
As an Istanbul court starts hearing the third indictment in the ongoing Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case today in which 44 suspects, including a number of journalists, are being tried, many are complaining about the decreasing public interest in the case.
Some 44 suspects, 36 of them arrested pending trial, are currently facing charges in the 800-page indictment that was unanimously accepted by the court in May 2012. The suspects are charged with leading a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, and being a member of the press committee of a terrorist organization. The suspects include daily Vatan reporter Çağdaş Ulus and daily Birgün reporter Zeynep Kuray.
Publisher, author and human rights activist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was released pending trial within the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case in April, has complained about the decreasing public interest in the case, after the release of the most prominent figures.
Visit to Silivri prison
On Sept. 5, Ragıp Zarakolu visited his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case, in Silivri No: 2 F-type prison. After their meeting, which lasted for two hours, Ragıp Zarakolu spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News. He stated that he had been arrested for a speech he made at a conference four years ago, while his son was arrested due to courses he had given at the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) politics academy.
“I am not a militant and did not raise my son as a militant. My son was giving courses to a legal party that was supposed to be under the safeguard of the Republic of Turkey. If this party is illegal, then I would like to ask if the state laid a trap for us.” Zarakolu said, adding that after he and Prof. Büşra Ersanlı were released, public interest in the case began to wane.
“I feel like I was used. I think my arrest was a conspiracy. The state just wanted to give the impression that it had accepted its mistakes. This hurts me,” Zarakolu said.
Ragıp Zarakolu and 14 others were released on April 10 due to their time spent incarcerated since arrest and the state of the evidence. Professor Büşra Ersanlı and 15 other suspects in the KCK case were also released on July 13.Zarakolu said he had ended his protest of silence, which he had begun after his release on April 10, for his son.
Meanwhile, one of the lawyers in the case, Davut Erkan, said the indictment had no legal basis and that the journalists were being charged for reporting the stories of Kurdish people, daily Evrensel reported yesterday.
September/10/2012
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News-Vercihan Ziflioğlu
As the third indictment involving several journalists in Kurdistan Communities Union case starts to be seen today, suspects and lawyers of the case complain about decreasing public interest in the hearings
Prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu is on his way to visit his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case in Silivri Prison.
As an Istanbul court starts hearing the third indictment in the ongoing Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case today in which 44 suspects, including a number of journalists, are being tried, many are complaining about the decreasing public interest in the case.
Some 44 suspects, 36 of them arrested pending trial, are currently facing charges in the 800-page indictment that was unanimously accepted by the court in May 2012. The suspects are charged with leading a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, and being a member of the press committee of a terrorist organization. The suspects include daily Vatan reporter Çağdaş Ulus and daily Birgün reporter Zeynep Kuray.
Publisher, author and human rights activist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was released pending trial within the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case in April, has complained about the decreasing public interest in the case, after the release of the most prominent figures.
Visit to Silivri prison
On Sept. 5, Ragıp Zarakolu visited his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case, in Silivri No: 2 F-type prison. After their meeting, which lasted for two hours, Ragıp Zarakolu spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News. He stated that he had been arrested for a speech he made at a conference four years ago, while his son was arrested due to courses he had given at the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) politics academy.
“I am not a militant and did not raise my son as a militant. My son was giving courses to a legal party that was supposed to be under the safeguard of the Republic of Turkey. If this party is illegal, then I would like to ask if the state laid a trap for us.” Zarakolu said, adding that after he and Prof. Büşra Ersanlı were released, public interest in the case began to wane.
“I feel like I was used. I think my arrest was a conspiracy. The state just wanted to give the impression that it had accepted its mistakes. This hurts me,” Zarakolu said.
Ragıp Zarakolu and 14 others were released on April 10 due to their time spent incarcerated since arrest and the state of the evidence. Professor Büşra Ersanlı and 15 other suspects in the KCK case were also released on July 13.Zarakolu said he had ended his protest of silence, which he had begun after his release on April 10, for his son.
Meanwhile, one of the lawyers in the case, Davut Erkan, said the indictment had no legal basis and that the journalists were being charged for reporting the stories of Kurdish people, daily Evrensel reported yesterday.
September/10/2012
4 Eylül 2012 Salı
Piano melodies to echo at historic Armenian church
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will give a piano recital at Diyarbakır’s Surp (Holy) Iragos Armenian Church, which was reopened to worship last October.
Some 97 years after being closed, the historical Surp (Holy) Giragos Armenian Church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır was reopened to worship last October. Now, the church will host a piano recital.
After also working hard in the restoration of the church himself, the Istanbul-born Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will perform in the concert. In an e-mail interview, Bedrosyan told the Hürriyet Daily News that the concert was “more significant to me than all my previous concerts in north America.”
“With this concert I want to show that this restored church is not only a silent monument, but an active, living center bringing people together for a peaceful future,” said Bedrosyan.
“Besides, the church will become a future religious and cultural center attracting Armenian pilgrims and tourists, enhancing dialogue between Armenians and people of Turkey.”
He said he was in continuous contact with quite a few liberal-minded people in Turkey, who share the same goal of a more democratized government, unafraid of facing past injustices.
First concert since 1915
“I am optimistic that the number of these people is increasing daily. I believe we need to increase opportunities for dialogue, cultural and academic interactions between Armenians and people of Turkey, especially for young people, so that the widespread discrimination and intolerance toward Armenians will be diminished in Turkey,” Bedrosyan said. “I am so excited for this concert.” “It will be the first concert by an Armenian since 1915. The Turkish word ‘çalmak’ has two meanings, ‘to steal,’ or ‘to play a musical instrument,” he added. “The first meaning of the word took place in this church in 1915, when Diyarbakır Governor Reşit, after massacring the entire Diyarbakir Armenian population, brought all the stolen valuable Armenian possessions to Surp Giragos Church, including several pianos.
Now 97 years later, I wish to implement the second meaning of the word, by giving this concert in the same church.”
During the concert Bedrosyan will play pieces from both Armenian and Western classical composers. Among the guests at the concert, there will be a group of 70 Armenians from the Diaspora, led by Archishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the United States. Before the concert, the group will first take part in Van Akhtamar Island’s Surp Khac Church-Museum divine liturgy. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also expected to attend the concert. The concert will take place on Sept. 10 and will be open to public.
September/04/2012
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will give a piano recital at Diyarbakır’s Surp (Holy) Iragos Armenian Church, which was reopened to worship last October.
Some 97 years after being closed, the historical Surp (Holy) Giragos Armenian Church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır was reopened to worship last October. Now, the church will host a piano recital.
After also working hard in the restoration of the church himself, the Istanbul-born Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will perform in the concert. In an e-mail interview, Bedrosyan told the Hürriyet Daily News that the concert was “more significant to me than all my previous concerts in north America.”
“With this concert I want to show that this restored church is not only a silent monument, but an active, living center bringing people together for a peaceful future,” said Bedrosyan.
“Besides, the church will become a future religious and cultural center attracting Armenian pilgrims and tourists, enhancing dialogue between Armenians and people of Turkey.”
He said he was in continuous contact with quite a few liberal-minded people in Turkey, who share the same goal of a more democratized government, unafraid of facing past injustices.
First concert since 1915
“I am optimistic that the number of these people is increasing daily. I believe we need to increase opportunities for dialogue, cultural and academic interactions between Armenians and people of Turkey, especially for young people, so that the widespread discrimination and intolerance toward Armenians will be diminished in Turkey,” Bedrosyan said. “I am so excited for this concert.” “It will be the first concert by an Armenian since 1915. The Turkish word ‘çalmak’ has two meanings, ‘to steal,’ or ‘to play a musical instrument,” he added. “The first meaning of the word took place in this church in 1915, when Diyarbakır Governor Reşit, after massacring the entire Diyarbakir Armenian population, brought all the stolen valuable Armenian possessions to Surp Giragos Church, including several pianos.
Now 97 years later, I wish to implement the second meaning of the word, by giving this concert in the same church.”
During the concert Bedrosyan will play pieces from both Armenian and Western classical composers. Among the guests at the concert, there will be a group of 70 Armenians from the Diaspora, led by Archishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the United States. Before the concert, the group will first take part in Van Akhtamar Island’s Surp Khac Church-Museum divine liturgy. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also expected to attend the concert. The concert will take place on Sept. 10 and will be open to public.
September/04/2012
Syriacs seek buffer zone for Christians in Syria
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Stockholm-based Syriac Democratic Union demands from international authorities to immediately form a buffer zone for the security of Christians, just like they did during the Gulf War. The vice president says negotiations are ongoing
Syrian firefighters extinguish a fire following at the site of a car bomb that ripped through Jaramana, a mainly Christian and Druze suburb of Damascus.
A Syriac lobby is engaging itself in diplomatic traffic with the United States and the European Union in order to promote the idea of a buffer zone for the safety of Christians living in Syria. The Syriac Lobby, headed by the Stockholm-based Syriac Democratic Union (SDU), is also calling on Syriacs in the region to act sensibly, advising them not to interfere with ongoing incidents.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, the SDU’s vice president Fikri Aygur said Christians in the region were in a struggle of life and death, adding that they demanded international authorities to immediately form a buffer zone for the security of Christians, just like they did during the Gulf War. He said their negotiations on the need for a buffer zone with the U.S. House of Representatives and the EU Parliament were ongoing.
“They are starting to abduct Christians in Syria. Christian villages are being evacuated by force, and armed groups are threatening the Christian population in the villages around the city of Homs. Murder cases have begun to be reported around Qamishli and Haseki,” Aygur said.
“If the necessary measures are not immediately taken, a great culture in the Middle East will be destroyed,” Aygur added, underlining that regional Christians were in urgent need of international assurance. A buffer zone was set up during the Gulf War in Iraq, when 1.5 million Iraqi Kurds escaping the attacks of the Saddam Hussein regime sought asylum on the Turkish and Iranian borders in 1991. The buffer zone started to be implemented with the prohibition of the flights on the north of 36th latitude, which is the Iraq border. The zone was then supported by an international military structure called “Poised Hammer,” consisting mostly of U.S. soldiers.
Call for Syriacs to stay calm
The SDU also issued a declaration entitled: “To our people and the world community,” on Sept. 1, and sent it to the U.S. House of Representatives and the EU Parliament.
The declaration condemns the members of the “Syriac Union Party in Syria,” who broke into the Syrian Embassy in Sweden on Aug. 14. The declaration also calls on the Christians in the region to stay calm, underlining that such demonstrations were against the character of the Syriac people. “Syria is the homeland of the Syriac people. The Syrian government opened its doors to the Syriacs who fled from the genocide in Turkey in 1915, and to the Syriac Orthodox Church Patriarchate that was exiled by Turkey at the beginning of the 1930s. As the Syriac Democratic Union (SDU), we do not support the anti-democratic policies of the Baath Party in Syria, however, we are very concerned about the imminent dangers awaiting our people as a result of regime change that would take place by force,” the declaration read.
It also addressed the United Nations and other international authorities to provide protection for Christians, emphasizing that they were under threat in the region.
“The incidents in Syria are like a fireball which the Syriacs should avoid. All regimes might come and go; however, Syria is the homeland of the Syriacs. And this war is not ours,” Aygur said, commenting on the notice.
September/04/2012
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Stockholm-based Syriac Democratic Union demands from international authorities to immediately form a buffer zone for the security of Christians, just like they did during the Gulf War. The vice president says negotiations are ongoing
Syrian firefighters extinguish a fire following at the site of a car bomb that ripped through Jaramana, a mainly Christian and Druze suburb of Damascus.
A Syriac lobby is engaging itself in diplomatic traffic with the United States and the European Union in order to promote the idea of a buffer zone for the safety of Christians living in Syria. The Syriac Lobby, headed by the Stockholm-based Syriac Democratic Union (SDU), is also calling on Syriacs in the region to act sensibly, advising them not to interfere with ongoing incidents.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, the SDU’s vice president Fikri Aygur said Christians in the region were in a struggle of life and death, adding that they demanded international authorities to immediately form a buffer zone for the security of Christians, just like they did during the Gulf War. He said their negotiations on the need for a buffer zone with the U.S. House of Representatives and the EU Parliament were ongoing.
“They are starting to abduct Christians in Syria. Christian villages are being evacuated by force, and armed groups are threatening the Christian population in the villages around the city of Homs. Murder cases have begun to be reported around Qamishli and Haseki,” Aygur said.
“If the necessary measures are not immediately taken, a great culture in the Middle East will be destroyed,” Aygur added, underlining that regional Christians were in urgent need of international assurance. A buffer zone was set up during the Gulf War in Iraq, when 1.5 million Iraqi Kurds escaping the attacks of the Saddam Hussein regime sought asylum on the Turkish and Iranian borders in 1991. The buffer zone started to be implemented with the prohibition of the flights on the north of 36th latitude, which is the Iraq border. The zone was then supported by an international military structure called “Poised Hammer,” consisting mostly of U.S. soldiers.
Call for Syriacs to stay calm
The SDU also issued a declaration entitled: “To our people and the world community,” on Sept. 1, and sent it to the U.S. House of Representatives and the EU Parliament.
The declaration condemns the members of the “Syriac Union Party in Syria,” who broke into the Syrian Embassy in Sweden on Aug. 14. The declaration also calls on the Christians in the region to stay calm, underlining that such demonstrations were against the character of the Syriac people. “Syria is the homeland of the Syriac people. The Syrian government opened its doors to the Syriacs who fled from the genocide in Turkey in 1915, and to the Syriac Orthodox Church Patriarchate that was exiled by Turkey at the beginning of the 1930s. As the Syriac Democratic Union (SDU), we do not support the anti-democratic policies of the Baath Party in Syria, however, we are very concerned about the imminent dangers awaiting our people as a result of regime change that would take place by force,” the declaration read.
It also addressed the United Nations and other international authorities to provide protection for Christians, emphasizing that they were under threat in the region.
“The incidents in Syria are like a fireball which the Syriacs should avoid. All regimes might come and go; however, Syria is the homeland of the Syriacs. And this war is not ours,” Aygur said, commenting on the notice.
September/04/2012
2 Eylül 2012 Pazar
Zirve trial judges lose their post
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Two judges and two prosecutors presiding over the Malatya Zirve publishing house massacre case have been removed from duty two days before one of the most critical hearings in the case on Sept. 3.
In the last hearing, the connection between the Zirve Publishing House Massacre and Ergenekon case was revealed. Gen. Hurşit Tolon, who has been charged as part of the Ergenekon probe, is set to appear before the judge on Sept. 3.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, one of the lawyers in the case, Erdal Doğan, said the dismissal of judges and prosecutors had caused a great surprise and would affect the process in a negative way.
“They were following the case in detail for five years and had important knowledge about it. Their dismissal provokes some thoughts. I have concerns for the proceedings of the case,” Doğan said.
Three missionaries, German citizen Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before having their throats slit at the Zirve Publishing House in 2007.
September/01/2012
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Two judges and two prosecutors presiding over the Malatya Zirve publishing house massacre case have been removed from duty two days before one of the most critical hearings in the case on Sept. 3.
In the last hearing, the connection between the Zirve Publishing House Massacre and Ergenekon case was revealed. Gen. Hurşit Tolon, who has been charged as part of the Ergenekon probe, is set to appear before the judge on Sept. 3.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, one of the lawyers in the case, Erdal Doğan, said the dismissal of judges and prosecutors had caused a great surprise and would affect the process in a negative way.
“They were following the case in detail for five years and had important knowledge about it. Their dismissal provokes some thoughts. I have concerns for the proceedings of the case,” Doğan said.
Three missionaries, German citizen Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before having their throats slit at the Zirve Publishing House in 2007.
September/01/2012
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