Why is Germany arresting a Kurdish journalist

Gefangener im Exile: Serdar Karakoç

Kurdish journalist Serdar Karakoç was arrested within the Netherlands on Might 23, 2024 on the initiative of the German authorities. Like his lawyer in Germany, Yener Sözen, to the every day newspaper YÖP introduced that prison proceedings are pending in opposition to Serdar Karakoç in accordance with Part 129b of the German Felony Code (StGB). He’s accused of being liable for the areas of Darmstadt, Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate between July 2017 and Might 2018.

At a listening to on July 24, the primary case will determine whether or not Serdar Karakoç needs to be extradited to Germany. An attraction might be made in opposition to the choice, however the course of might take a very long time.

“instrument of German overseas coverage”

The time of the alleged crime was now seven years in the past. Why is Germany now arresting Serdar Karakoç when he’s accused of terrorist crimes? The lawyer Yener Sözen answered this query: “This course of exhibits us that Germany arbitrarily takes the file out of the drawer when it wants it politically. “

It’s clear that Germany has taken a number one function in eliminating opposition from Turkey and Kurdistan. The YÖP writes: “After Turkey, Germany has probably the most accusations, investigations and arrests. Germany needs to impose its overseas coverage on the European Union, which is predicated on the Turkish perspective. It isn’t a coincidence that a number of Kurdish politicians in Cyprus, France and Sweden had been arrested in recent times on the request of Germany. The arrest is a device of German overseas coverage.”

Serdar Karakoç appears to be solely the final hyperlink on this chain. It was not but doable to look the Federal Prosecutor’s Workplace investigative information. “We’ll give a extra detailed opinion on the matter as soon as we’ve got seen it,” introduced the lawyer Sözen.

Serdar Karakoç

Serdar Karakoç is an Alevi Kurd and was born in Dersim in 1960. He has been working as a journalist within the custom of the Kurdish free media for the reason that Eighties. Initially of the Nineties he was in command of the Izmir workplace of the newspaper “Özgür Gündem”, which was later banned in Turkey, and later he moved to the Istanbul editorial staff. When the then Prime Minister Tansu Çiller took over the editorial workplaces of the agent “Özgür Gündem” “Özgür Ülke” on December 3, 1994. bomb Karakoç was one of many few media staff who remained unhurt within the state-ordered assault. He left Turkey in 2001 to flee persecution and has been residing within the Netherlands as a acknowledged refugee ever since.

Rising further requests from Germany

The authorized help fund AZADÎ eV, primarily based in Cologne, has been claiming for a 12 months and a half that an growing variety of Kurdish activists in different European nations are being despatched arrested on the request of the German authorities after which extradited to Germany to face prosecution. right here as PKK members charged below Part 129b of the Felony Code. Sabri Çimen arrested in France and extradited, Mehmet Çakas from Italy and Kena Ayaz from Cyprus. Belgium additionally despatched out an activist Ferit Celik was arrested in Sweden in February.

In Germany, twelve Kurds are at present in pre-trial or prison detention below Part 129b. It was final Hachi A. on Might 22, 2024 on the initiative of the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Workplace in Fürstenfeldbruck, Bavaria, and was arrested on the identical day. The person is in jail for 50 years in Kempten jail.