Reuters AlertNet Lite - Turkey jails Kurd politician for terror support

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Turkey jails Kurd politician for terror support

06 Apr 2007 11:28:12 GMT
Source: Reuters

TUNCELI, Turkey, April 6 (Reuters) - A Turkish court has jailed a local leader of the main pro-Kurdish party and seven others for aiding Kurdish rebels, the latest in a rash of court cases against the party.

The head of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in the eastern province of Tunceli, Hidir Aytac, was sentenced to three years nine months in jail for "aiding and providing shelter to a terror group".

After Thursday evening's verdict in the southeastern town of Malatya, Aytac told reporters he would appeal. Seven others including party members received the same sentence.

Another eight people were acquitted in the case which was based on statements by a captured guerrilla from the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The group has waged a violent insurgency in Turkey since 1984.

The mayor of the southeastern town of Hakkari was sentenced to seven years in prison last month for PKK membership. On Wednesday the DTP's provincial leader in the capital Ankara, Salih Karaaslan, was charged with PKK membership.

The legal action against DTP officials comes ahead of a general election scheduled to take place by November this year.

Turkish media said Karaaslan was among more than a dozen people detained for making pro-PKK propaganda. Karaaslan and three other were charged while the others were released.

Also on Thursday, a court in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir released from custody the local provincial DTP leader who is being tried on charges of "inciting hatred".

He could face up to three years in prison if convicted for suggesting any military intervention by Turkey in mainly Kurdish northern Iraq would be viewed as an attack on all Kurds.

Turkey is concerned about growing tensions in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq and has hinted it might take military action to protect its national interests.

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Last updated:Fri Apr 6 11:28:26 2007