TURKISH MAYOR CAN'T RECEIVE TREATMENT ABROAD OVER TRAVEL BAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 19, 2011 - 14:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The mayor of Sur Municipality in the eastern province
of Diyarbakır is suffering from a serious disease and was advised by
doctors to receive medical care abroad. But Sur Mayor Abdullah Demirbaş
is not allowed to leave Turkey due to the Kurdish Communities Union
(KCK) case, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
Demirbaş, who is very popular for multilingual municipal services, is
on trial in the case against the alleged urban wing of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He was arrested Dec. 24, 2009 and
convicted due to the accusations. His previous illness has worsened
because of prison conditions.
After Dicle University Medical Faculty released a report saying,
"Abdullah Demirbaş has critical conditions," the court released him
pending trial on April 5, 2010.
Istanbul University Medical Hospital, Capa Medical Faculty and
Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital diagnosed his disease as
"hereditary vein thrombosis" and warned that without treatment, it
could grow worse every day. The universities suggested that Demirbaş
should receive treatment abroad, but he cannot seek treatment because
of his travel ban.
"I have applied to the court four times, but our applications have
been denied regarding the suspicion of attempt to escape. In order
to suspend the travel ban, President Abdullah Gul or Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin could use
initiative for this case," Demirbaş told the Hurriyet Daily News on
Oct. 17.
The mayor also noted that the court might decide in his favor.
A new campaign called "Freedom to Demirbaş" has been launched on
social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook urging officials to
lift the ban. The mayor said the social media campaign has been very
successful so far.
"The head of the local administration of the Council of Europe and
the head of Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Commission called me
on the issue," Demirbaş said.
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 19, 2011 - 14:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The mayor of Sur Municipality in the eastern province
of Diyarbakır is suffering from a serious disease and was advised by
doctors to receive medical care abroad. But Sur Mayor Abdullah Demirbaş
is not allowed to leave Turkey due to the Kurdish Communities Union
(KCK) case, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
Demirbaş, who is very popular for multilingual municipal services, is
on trial in the case against the alleged urban wing of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He was arrested Dec. 24, 2009 and
convicted due to the accusations. His previous illness has worsened
because of prison conditions.
After Dicle University Medical Faculty released a report saying,
"Abdullah Demirbaş has critical conditions," the court released him
pending trial on April 5, 2010.
Istanbul University Medical Hospital, Capa Medical Faculty and
Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital diagnosed his disease as
"hereditary vein thrombosis" and warned that without treatment, it
could grow worse every day. The universities suggested that Demirbaş
should receive treatment abroad, but he cannot seek treatment because
of his travel ban.
"I have applied to the court four times, but our applications have
been denied regarding the suspicion of attempt to escape. In order
to suspend the travel ban, President Abdullah Gul or Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin could use
initiative for this case," Demirbaş told the Hurriyet Daily News on
Oct. 17.
The mayor also noted that the court might decide in his favor.
A new campaign called "Freedom to Demirbaş" has been launched on
social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook urging officials to
lift the ban. The mayor said the social media campaign has been very
successful so far.
"The head of the local administration of the Council of Europe and
the head of Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Commission called me
on the issue," Demirbaş said.