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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08040092.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Murder trial resumes in Malatya, Turkey
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
TURKEY (ANS) — The trial of five men accused of murdering three Christians in southeast Turkey resumed on Monday, April 14 2008.
Two Turkish Christians from a Muslim-background, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, and German citizen, Tilman Geske, were tortured to death on 18 April 2007 in the office of a Christian publishing company in the city of Malatya.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), says that during the 12-hour hearing on Monday, the lawyers acting for the families of the victims were informed that their request to have the bench of three judges replaced was rejected by a higher court. The lawyers had previously lodged the request declaring that the ‘impartiality and independence’ of the court was in jeopardy. The court also heard from three of the defendants.
One of the lawyers for the victims’ families, Tahir Elçi, told Turkish news agency Bianet that although these men had confessed, no one was able to find those who orchestrated the murders. Mr Elçi believes that opportunities for a deeper inquiry have been blocked. This view is shared by other lawyers and the Alliance of Turkish Protestant Churches.
The trial will resume on May 12.
CSW’s National Director, Stuart Windsor said: “It is concerning that the court is still reluctant to pursue the darker connections behind those standing trial. During the first part of 2008, reports of attacks on church properties and Christian clergymen in Turkey have increased significantly. If the court does not seek to address the larger problem, it will send out a negative and dangerous message to nationalists who have targeted Christians that their actions will go unpunished.”
CSW is a human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
For more information, please contact Penny Hollings, Campaigns and Media Manager at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045, email pennyhollings@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk .
** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael’s involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) — of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International.
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.