Turkish activists jailed in terror trial

28 February 2006

BRUSSELS — Brugge Court sentenced Turkish activist Fehriye Erdal to four years jail on Tuesday in a major terrorism trial.

However, the judge ruled that the DHKP-C — an extreme-left organisation of which Erdal is a member — is a terrorist group and not a terrorist organisation.

Six other DHKP-C members were sentenced to jail terms ranging from four to six years. Four suspects were acquitted, news service VRT reported.

The 11 suspects were arrested almost seven years ago in an apartment in Duinbergen on the coast. They were found to be in possession of weapons and forged documents. Erdal has long protested her innocence.

Accused of trying to overthrow the Turkish government, the 11 suspects were members of the Marxist Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army/Front (DHKP-C). The US and the EU consider the DHKP-C to be a terrorist organisation.

The DHKPC wants to overthrow the current Turkish government and says it is prepared to use any means it can to do so. It has already claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks in Turkey.

These attacks include two suicide bombings in 2001 that killed three Istanbul policemen and an Australian woman. It has also carried out attacks in Germany.

Subject: Belgian news