Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Turkish court acquits priest charged with backing Armenian resolution
by Anatolia, 5 April
Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 02:46 am CST

DIYARBAKIR - Syriac [Syriac Orthodox Church] priest Yusuf Akbulut who was being tried in the Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) was acquitted on Thursday [5 April].

The Diyarbakir DGM decided to acquit Syriac priest Akbulut who was being tried on charges of inciting people to hatred by discriminating among them in respect of religious and racial differences.

The Diyarbakir DGM decided to acquit the Syriac priest Akbulut who was being tried on charges of making statements backing the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians which was debated by the lower chamber of the US House of Representatives.

Akbulut attended today's hearing.

Akbulut's lawyer Abdulkadir Pakdemir said that they do not accept the report of the experts related with the deciphering of the cassette and that this cassette was recorded without the information of his client.

Pakdemir noted that even if the words which were seen as the reason for the case were uttered by his client, they do not constitute a crime.

"To this end, there is no need for the examination of the experts. I demand my client's acquittal," Pakdemir said.

Akbulut said that he agrees with the statements of his lawyer and requested his acquittal.

The prosecutor said that Akbulut expressed his own ideas and views to the reporters who interviewed him, who is working as the priest of the Syriac Virgin Mary Church in Diyarbakir, when the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians was on the agenda of the lower chamber of the US House of Representative.

The prosecutor later demanded Akbulut's acquittal because the suspect was understood not to behave with a special intention to incite people to hatred and enmity by discriminating among them in respect of religious differences and this behaviour should be evaluated within the framework of freedom of expression.

Then, the court delegation acquitted Akbulut.

The spectators among whom were German and Swedish parliamentarians applauded the court's decision.

Following the hearing, Akbulut said that justice prevailed and that he had expected this decision.

The indictment had asked for imprisonment term from one to three years for Akbulut on charges of provoking people to hatred and enmity by discriminating among them in respect of religious and racial differences.

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