Following the first visit to Turkey of the Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, an investigation is launched against Karekin II under article 301 of Anti-Terror Law for “insulting Turkishness”.
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BÝA News Center
29/06/2006
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BÝA (Istanbul) – An investigation has been launched in Turkey against the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II related to remarks he made during his first visit to the country last week.
The investigation was started under controversial article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for “insulting Turkishness” and is related to a criminal complaint filed by an individual named Recep Akkus and the right-wing Jurists Union that has pursued a series of similar complaints against high-profile Turkish authors and intellectuals.
Akkus himself as among those who filed a criminal complaint against Turkey-EU Mixed Parliamentary Commission co-chairman Joost Lagendijk for, “insulting the Turkish army and judiciary organs and attempting to influence the judiciary”.
The complaint related to a press conference held at the Armenian Patriarchy last week where Karekin II said “genocide is not an issue of research for our people, it is an incident that has happened and it should be recognised”.
Turkey’s NTV channel reported that as Karekin II is currently in Armenia and there is no judicial assistance agreement between Turkey and that country, it is not likely for a statement to be taken from the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church by Letter of Request.
If the prosecution deems it necessary, it can issue a warrant to all border doors and entry points for Karekin II to be questioned and a statement taken from him on his next entry into the country. (EO/TK/II/YE)
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