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| Kurd jailed for honouring Ocalan | |
| (2 days later) | |
| A Kurdish politician in Turkey has been sentenced to six months in prison for giving jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan a respectful title. | |
| A court in Diyarbakir said Ahmet Turk's use of "Sayin" - meaning "esteemed" - 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 leads a pro-Kurdish party. He is reportedly considering an appeal. |
| The term "Sayin" is also sometimes translated simply as "Mr". | |
| Ahmet Turk was sentenced by the court on a charge of supporting a criminal in a speech he made in January 2006. | 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 | 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. |