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'Mr Ocalan' conviction in Turkey | 'Mr Ocalan' conviction in Turkey |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A Kurdish politician in Turkey has been sentenced to six months in prison for referring to jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as "Mr Ocalan". | A Kurdish politician in Turkey has been sentenced to six months in prison for referring to jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as "Mr Ocalan". |
A court in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir said the use of "Mr" by Ahmet Turk implied respect for Ocalan. | |
Ocalan is serving a life sentence after he was found guilty of treason for leading the Kurdish armed campaign in which more than 30,000 people died. | Ocalan is serving a life sentence after he was found guilty of treason for leading the Kurdish armed campaign in which more than 30,000 people died. |
Ahmet Turk leads a pro-Kurdish party. He is reportedly considering an appeal. | |
Ahmet Turk was sentenced by the court on a charge of supporting a criminal in a speech he made in January 2006. | |
It was the second conviction for the leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) in seven days. | It was the second conviction for the leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) in seven days. |
Last week, Ahmet Turk - alongside with a DTP deputy leader - was sentenced to 18 months in prison for distributing party materials in the Kurdish language. | Last week, Ahmet Turk - alongside with a DTP deputy leader - was sentenced to 18 months in prison for distributing party materials in the Kurdish language. |
Turkish law allows distribution of political literature only in Turkish. | Turkish law allows distribution of political literature only in Turkish. |
'Harassment campaign' | 'Harassment campaign' |
Tuesday's ruling against Ahmet Turk is the latest in a wave of legal proceedings against his party, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says. Abdullah Ocalan was captured in 1999 | |
According to one tally, more than 50 DTP members of the pro-Kurdish DTP have been arrested and at least seven senior officials charged in less than a fortnight, our correspondent says. | According to one tally, more than 50 DTP members of the pro-Kurdish DTP have been arrested and at least seven senior officials charged in less than a fortnight, our correspondent says. |
Party officials argue they are victims of a sustained campaign of harassment, saying the authorities are trying to close the party down before a general election later this year. | Party officials argue they are victims of a sustained campaign of harassment, saying the authorities are trying to close the party down before a general election later this year. |
The DTP campaigns for greater cultural and political rights for Turkey's large Kurdish population, our correspondent says. | The DTP campaigns for greater cultural and political rights for Turkey's large Kurdish population, our correspondent says. |
But she says the party is viewed with deep suspicion by Turkish nationalists, who argue it is closely tied to the Kurdish separatist cause. | But she says the party is viewed with deep suspicion by Turkish nationalists, who argue it is closely tied to the Kurdish separatist cause. |
Party leaders insist they support a united Turkey and an end to violent conflict. | Party leaders insist they support a united Turkey and an end to violent conflict. |