One Italian charged in Diyarbakir, others freed

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

25 March 1998

One Italian charged in Diyarbakir, others freed

  * Italian FM Dini asked for immediate deportation of the Italians
 detained in Southeast

  _________________________________________________________________

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini told reporters late on Monday
that Italy wished Turkey to immediately deport the Italians who were
detained in Diyarbakir.

A State Security Court charged an Italian man with inciting national
hatred based on ethnic separatism after he allegedly took part in
pro-Kurdish celebrations, the Anatolia news agency said.

Two other Italians who had also been detained were not charged and set
free. The three were arrested on Saturday in this southeastern city
while observing a traditional spring festival known as Newroz.

Dino Frisulo, a member of Italy's Peace Association, was found
carrying documents belonging to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) which has been waging a bloody war for autonomy, the report
said.

A few other people were also detained when Saturday's celebrations
turned into scuffles with police in Diyarbakir and neighboring Van.

No trial date has been set for Frisulo. He could receive up to three
years in prison if convicted.

In Italy, Italian Senator Stefano Boco called the arrests "the latest
demonstration of the brutality and summary nature of methods used by
the Turkish Government" against the Kurds.

Protestors gathered outside the Turkish consulate in Florence, Italy,
for a second day Monday, showing solidarity with Frisulo and his
compatriots.

Close to 37,000 people have died in fighting between Turkish troops
and the PKK since 1984, when the PKK launched their campaign for
autonomy.

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
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