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Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2009
Complaint filed against nationalist group over racist placard
A criminal complaint has been filed against a nationalist group in
central EskiÅ?ehir province over a placard displayed in early
January in the group's office barring Jews and Armenians from
entering.
The Directorate General of Provincial Associations in
EskiÅ?ehir filed a criminal complaint yesterday against the
chairman and board members of the Federation of Osmangazi Culture
Associations, accusing them of using the federation for purposes other
than those stated in its bylaws. The complaint came in the wake of the
racist placards displayed in the federation's office.
Niyazi Ã?apa, chairman of the federation, and several colleagues
called a press conference on Jan. 6, just after the Israeli military
began its three-week operation in Gaza. They were holding placards on
which appeared such phrases as `No Armenians or Jews are allowed
through this door' and `It is free for dogs to enter.' Ã?apa
said they were saying dogs are more valuable than them [Jews and
Armenians].
The protest drew the ire of many, who accused the group of attempting
to damage the peaceful atmosphere in the country.
The criminal complaint stressed that Ã?apa and federation board
members went beyond the organization's purpose as stated in its bylaws
and demanded that they be punished. The EskiÅ?ehir Public
Prosecutor's Office is considering the complaint.
A similar complaint was previously filed by the Human Rights
Association (Ä°HD), which accused the federation of
`discrimination on the basic of race or religion' and `inciting the
public to hate and of hatred.' The association demanded that
Ã?apa and his colleagues be sentenced to up to four-and-a-half
years in prison each. Ã?apa and his associates will stand trial
at the EskiÅ?ehir 4th Court of Peace on May 6.
11 March 2009, Wednesday
MEHMET KURU ESKIÅ?EHIR
March 11 2009
Complaint filed against nationalist group over racist placard
A criminal complaint has been filed against a nationalist group in
central EskiÅ?ehir province over a placard displayed in early
January in the group's office barring Jews and Armenians from
entering.
The Directorate General of Provincial Associations in
EskiÅ?ehir filed a criminal complaint yesterday against the
chairman and board members of the Federation of Osmangazi Culture
Associations, accusing them of using the federation for purposes other
than those stated in its bylaws. The complaint came in the wake of the
racist placards displayed in the federation's office.
Niyazi Ã?apa, chairman of the federation, and several colleagues
called a press conference on Jan. 6, just after the Israeli military
began its three-week operation in Gaza. They were holding placards on
which appeared such phrases as `No Armenians or Jews are allowed
through this door' and `It is free for dogs to enter.' Ã?apa
said they were saying dogs are more valuable than them [Jews and
Armenians].
The protest drew the ire of many, who accused the group of attempting
to damage the peaceful atmosphere in the country.
The criminal complaint stressed that Ã?apa and federation board
members went beyond the organization's purpose as stated in its bylaws
and demanded that they be punished. The EskiÅ?ehir Public
Prosecutor's Office is considering the complaint.
A similar complaint was previously filed by the Human Rights
Association (Ä°HD), which accused the federation of
`discrimination on the basic of race or religion' and `inciting the
public to hate and of hatred.' The association demanded that
Ã?apa and his colleagues be sentenced to up to four-and-a-half
years in prison each. Ã?apa and his associates will stand trial
at the EskiÅ?ehir 4th Court of Peace on May 6.
11 March 2009, Wednesday
MEHMET KURU ESKIÅ?EHIR