Extradition Of Kaplan To Turkey To Be Redebated

BERLIN - The case about extradition of Metin Kaplan, the leader of the Islamic Community-Denominational Vision, to Turkey will be redebated.
Upon request of the German government, the Higher Administrative Court of Northern Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany ruled on Thursday that the case should be redebated.
Earlier, Koln Administrative Court banned extradition of Kaplan to Turkey claiming that he might be tortured in Turkey.
Northern Rhine-Westphalia Higher Administrative Court decided that it should be scrutinized whether or not this reason was acceptable.
Releasing a written statement following announcement of the court decision, German Interior Minister Otto Schily expressed his satisfaction with the decision, saying that he was sure that Kaplan would be extradited to Turkey.
Kaplan was sentenced to four-year imprisonment for giving an order to his supporters to kill his rival Ibrahim Sofu. He was released after serving his imprisonment term.
(UK) 04.12.2003