The cover for unjust detentions in Turkey: Al Qaeda

[cem]

The cover for unjust detentions in Turkey: Al Qaeda

by Haksöz Haber (*) , 27 December 2008

(translated by Cem Ertür)


Editorial note:

It is interesting to note that the Turkish authorities launched the latest "Al Qaeda Operation" on December 16, six days before Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's official visit to Ankara where he met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul. Israeli bombardment of Gaza began four days after this visit.


22 individuals were arrested and brought to police headquarters following simultaneous home raids in numerous counties by the Anti-Terrorism Branch of Istanbul Police. According to information leaked to the media by the police, operations are ongoing and the number of arrested suspects will increase.

The seizure of numerous documents of the organization is presented to the media as news of great success. Curiously, these "documents" seized during the "Al-Qaeda operation" were nothing but CDs, books and magazines!

Over the last few years, more than a hundred people have been detained with the allegation that they were members of Al Qaeda. Almost all of them have been acquitted in court. Although the police's attempt to cover up their unlawful practices by the use of "Al Qaeda charges" is well noted, it is unclear as to who will be held responsible for these grievances.

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(*) link to the original item in Turkish:

http://www.haksozhaber.net/news_detail.php?id=6069