Former HADEP leader Demir is standing trial with 15 other party executives
charged with making separatist propaganda

Jan 18, 2001
Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Former leader of the Peoples Democracy Party (HADEP) Ahmet Turan Demir is
standing trial with 15 other party executives at Ankara Number 2 State Security Court
(DGM) charged with making separatist propaganda, the Anatolia news agency
reported yesterday. By way of defense, Ali Riza Yurtsever -- former assistant general
secretary -- said they had written the incriminating material in order to promote the
party's peaceful views on Sept. 1 World Peace Day last year. He rejected claims the
text contained "separatist propaganda" and that the message of peace was clear. In
contrast to this, the prosecution maintains that the content of leaflets, bearing the title
"Freedom, Equality and Peace" prepared by HADEP clearly showed that the crime in
question had been committed. The suspects are being charged under provision 3713
of the Anti-terrorism Law: "Making propaganda against the unity and integrity of the
state".
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com