Despite the recent high tensions with the Erdoğan regime and the sanctions announced by the Merkel government, Germany insists on not changing their policies on Kurds. Following the 3 year 3 month prison sentence issued to Kurdish politician Muhlis Kaya in Stuttgart last week, a court in Hamburg issued a similar verdict.

Kurdish politician Zeki Eroğlu was arrested in Swedish capital Stockholm by the German government’s demand in April 2016 and was later extradited to Germany. His trial had been in progress since January.

Eroğlu’s trial, which was based on the German constitution’s article on “foreign organizations” known as “Article 129 B”, concluded yesterday.

EROĞLU GREETED THE VERDICT WITH SLOGANS

The prosecution asked for 3 years 3 months in prison for Eroğlu, and the court issued a 2 year 9 month prison sentence. With this verdict, Eroğlu became the 10th Kurdish politician prosecuted by German courts in recent years. The court didn’t allow for a reduction of sentence due to the article Eroğlu was tried on, and they had a hard time justifying the verdict.

Kurdish politician Zeki Eroğlu greeted the verdict by chanting the slogan, “Bijî Serok Apo”. Eroğlu had given his last defense last week and had stated that those who silently watched were just as guilty for the Turkish government’s crimes in Kurdistan. Eroğlu had stressed that the Kurds had been subjected to massacre policies since the Turkish state was founded, and had said: “The right for Kurds to resist massacres is legitimate.”

11 KURDISH POLITICIANS UNDER ARREST

In recent years, out of the 11 Kurdish politicians and activists arrested in Germany, Bedrettin Kavak, Mehmet Demir, Mustafa Çelik, Kenan Baştu, Ali Özel, Ahmet Çelik, Ali Hıdır Doğan and Muhlis Kaya received prison sentences between 2 and 3.5 years.

Kurdish politician Hıdır Yıldırım’s trial will begin in September. Yıldırım had been imprisoned due to an arrest warrant issued by the Berlin Regional Court on October 11, 2016. 

Appeals to have the German Justice Ministry’s investigation permit allowing Kurdish politicians to be tried on the “anti-terror” law Article 129 B revoked had been fruitless, and lawyers of the Kurdish politicians had appealed to the Federal Constitutional Court for it. The Federal court is yet to announce a verdict.