Tilmann Ekkhart Geske, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yüksel, all working for the Zirve Publications which published Christian materials, were attacked and killed brutally in their office in Malatya (south-eastern Turkey) on 18 April this year.

Intolerance of difference

The case against seven suspects, to be heard at the Malatya Heavy Penal Court, will be watched carefully by those already worried by the murders of priest Andrea Santoro, killed in Trabzon in February 2006, and journalist Hrant Dink, murdered in Istanbul in January 2007.

Five detained suspects

Five of the defendants have been in detention since the attack; they are accused of “founding and being members of a terrorist group”, “killing people as part of the terrorist activities”, and “depriving people of their freedom”. Emre G., Salih G., Cuma Ö, Abuzer Y. and Hamit C. are the five detained defendants.

Kürsat K. and Mehmet G. are going to be tried without detention for “being members of an armed organisation.” The indictment calls for prison sentences from five to ten years.

Further suspects M.T., A.K., M.U., M.Ö. and T.I. have also been released from detention but will be tried, too.

Heavy punishments demanded

Emre G. was found at the scene of crime immediately after the murder and tried to escape by jumping out of a third-floor window. After receiving treatment for his injuries, he has been in detention and is accused of planning the attack. Under Article 314/1 of theTurkish Penal Code, the “leadership of an armed organisation” is to be punished with ten to fifteen years imprisonment. Under Article 82/1-a, which refers to the “planned, deliberate killing of a person”, the indictment is calling for three life sentences in solitary confinement for each of the five detained suspects.

According to the indictment written by Malatya Public Prosecutors Mehmet Badem and Ömer Tetik, the five detained suspects will also be punished for violating the immunity of the work place. (EÖ/AG)