Nine Children Face 24 Years in Jail

Nine children aged between 13 and 17 years old are facing prison sentences of 24 years in total under allegations of "membership in a terrorist organization" and on a number of other charges.

The children allegedly attended a demonstration on 7 July 2010 in the Ova district of Adana, a city on the eastern tip of the Mediterranean coast. The demonstration was organized to protest military operations against the outlawed armed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The nine juveniles stand accused of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization", "intentionally endangering the general security", "unauthorized possession of dangerous substances" and "membership of a terror organization". The young defendants, five of whom are detained, are facing prison terms of up to 24 years in total.

Due to amendments of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK), the trial was opened at a juvenile court instead of a special authority court.

53 children were released from prison after amendments of the TMK

The reviewed bill of the TMK was published in the Official Gazette on 26 July 2010. According to the amendments, children charged with "terror" crimes cannot be prosecuted together with adults any longer.

Article 12 of Law no. 6008 affected the TMK, the Criminal Procedure Law (CMK) and the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations (TGYK).

53 children were released from prison after the amendments were enforced. Statistics of the Ministry of Justice suggest that 196 children are detained in the scope of the TMK. About 4000 children and juveniles aged between 12 and 18 years old were tried since 2006, a part of these law suits is still pending. (NV/EÖ/VK)