ANKARA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Namik Tan has said that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) requested defense of Turkey in case of Merve Kavakci, the former deputy of the Felicity Party (FP).
Speaking at the weekly press conference at the Ministry, Tan said on Wednesday, ''the ECHR conveyed its request on Monday. We will assess the request.''
Upon a question, Tan said that Turkey had a period of three months to complete its defense, adding that they had the right to ask for additional time.
Kavakci caused a serious row at the parliament by attending the oath-taking ceremony on May 3, 1999 wearing an Islamic-style headscarf. Then Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit accused her of violating the basic principles of the secular Republic of Turkey. Later, her taking up U.S. citizenship without giving information to Turkey caused another row. She was stripped off her deputyship, and denaturalized.
(UK-AÖ) 05.05.2004