PKK Leader Applies to Constitutional Court

PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan has filed a lawsuit to Turkey's constitutional court, complaining that his book entitled "Kurdish people's manifesto" had previously been declined for publishing.

According to today's Hurriyet newspaper, Öcalan applied to the court individually, a right that has been implemented by the government for all Turkey's citizens in 2012.

The Hurriyet newspaper article written by Metehan Demir claimed that the court gave Öcalan extra time for the completion of missing procedures.

"Following the completion of missing procedures and documents, the constitution court will officially proceed with Öcalan's application. If the court accepts Öcalan's claim, his book might come out soon," the newspaper article said.

Individual application to constitutional court

In September 2010, a referendum was held in Turkey concerning amendments in the constitution including a regulation that allowed individuals to apply to Turkey's constitutional court on human rights cases defined by European Declaration of Human Rights. The amendment, which currently permitted constitutional court to serve as last domestic option before applying ECHR, was implemented on September 23, 2012. (EA)