Re-trial Of Four Former DEP Deputies To Start Tomorrow

ANKARA - Former deputies of the banned Democracy Party (DEP) will appear in the court once again on October 22nd, 2004.
Yusuf Alatas, lawyer of former DEP deputies, told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that they would request the court to abide by the decision made by the Supreme Court of Appeals previously.
The Supreme Court of Appeals Department no: 9 sent the chart of former DEP deputies Leyla Zana, Orhan Dogan, Hatip Dicle and Selim Sadak to a local court after overturning decision of the Ankara State Security Court no: 1.
Since the State Security Courts-DGMs were dissolved in line with Turkey`s recent EU reforms packages, Ankara High Criminal Court no: 11 will hear the case.
In 1994, Ankara DGM no: 1 sentenced Zana, Dicle, Sadak and Dogan to 15 years in prison in accordance with Article 168 of the Turkish Penal Code related to persons who were a member of an illegal organization, on charges of conducting separatist activities both in Turkey and abroad, on the orders and directives of the terrorist organization PKK.
Under the EU reform packages, former DEP deputies requested a re-trial, and their re-trial started on March 28th, 2003. However on April 21st, 2004, the court insisted on its earlier verdict.
The Supreme Court of Appeals Department no: 9 overturned the decision, and decided to release former DEP deputies from prison on June 9th, 2004.
(UK-MS) 21.10.2004