ANKARA (CIHAN) - The recently-released four ex-deputies of the defunct pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) visited the Chairman of the main opposition party, the Republican People`s Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal on Saturday.
The Turkish Supreme Court of Justice 9th District Penal Court on Wednesday ordered the release pending trial of the four ex-MPs of the now-defunct pro-Kurdish DEP - Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Selim Sadak and Orhan Dogan.
Ankara State Security Court had sentenced Leyla Zana and three other former DEP deputies to 15-year jail terms in 1994 for endangering national security and participating in illegal pro-Kurdish separatist activities. However, the European Court of Human Right subsequently rejected the verdict of the Ankara No 1 State Security Court (DGM) and requested the retrial of the former DEP MPs. The retrial process of Ankara State Security Court ended with the confirmation of the original verdict of 15-year prison terms. However, the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice 9th District Penal Court on Wednesday ordered the release of the four ex-MPs.
CHP Chairman Baykal said after the meeting that he expected that the former DEP deputies would work to create an atmosphere of cooperation, adding that the recent increase in armed clashes and the recommencement of terrorist activities in Turkey were unacceptable.
Baykal said that he welcomed with great pleasure the release decision and added, "I hoped that this development will contribute to the creation of peace, friendship and goodwill in Turkey." He also stated his belief that Zana and her friends would work for these aims.
Baykal said that his party was expecting a new political era when ethnical discrimination in politics would be totally removed and stated that the CHP was ready to contribute to the start of this new era.