Petros Houhoulis
11-19-2014, 12:55 PM
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_denmark-insistent-as-turkey-fails-to-clarify-release-of-danish-suspect_364664.html
Denmark insistent as Turkey fails to clarify release of Danish suspect
http://cdncms.todayszaman.com/todayszaman/2014/11/18/197327_newsdetail.jpg
Lars Hedegaard (Photo: DHA)
November 18, 2014, Tuesday/ 12:31:13/ TODAY'S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL
The Danish Foreign Ministry has sent another note to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, once again asking a series of questions concerning the release of a suspect in an assassination attempt against Lars Hedegaard, a former columnist for a top Danish newspaper who is known for his outspoken criticism of Islam.
According to the Danish Berlingske daily, Denmark could not get a satisfactory response from Turkey on why and where the suspect was released as well as his whereabouts after a delegation of Danish officials visited Ankara in October.
Denmark sent a delegation of government officials to Turkey on Oct. 17 to meet with the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice regarding the status of the suspect, but is unhappy with the lack of information provided regarding the release.
Danish Justice Minister Mette Frederiksen said in October that Turkish officials had confirmed the release of the suspect, but he said they had offered no explanation as to why he was released.
Failing to get answers on the release of the suspect although more than a month had passed, Danish authorities reportedly sent another note to the Turkish Foreign Ministry requesting an urgent response to the questions asked.
Hedegaard, a historian and author known for his anti-Islamic views, was convicted of hate speech after his remarks about Muslims, a decision which was later overturned by a higher court.
On Feb. 5, 2013, Hedegaard was the target of an assassination attempt that failed when the attacker's gun jammed. The suspect, known only by the initials B.H., fled Denmark after the attempt, but he was arrested at İstanbul Atatürk Airport while trying to enter Turkey with a fake passport. Turkey did not return the suspect to Denmark, despite calls from the Danish government.
Denmark's foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, said in early November that good relations between Turkey and Denmark are more important than the Hedegaard case.
Lidegaard told Danish daily Berlingske that Turkey has helped with the release of Danish hostages in Syria, and stressed that if the country faces a similar case, it may ask for help from Turkey again.
The suspect was part of a hostage swap for 43 Turks who had been held by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants. The Turkish hostages, seized during an ISIL raid in June, were set free on Sept. 20, after 101 days in captivity. Turkey has claimed that the release was achieved purely through diplomacy.
In a related development, last month Turkey requested an explanation from the Danish authorities with regards to the recent release of 10 people who were charged with fundraising for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), stressing that combating the financing of terrorism is an international obligation for all countries.
The acquittal came at a time when several Danish officials increased their public criticism against Turkey's release of the suspect.
What do you expect from a terrorist regime? To persecute terrorists?
Denmark insistent as Turkey fails to clarify release of Danish suspect
http://cdncms.todayszaman.com/todayszaman/2014/11/18/197327_newsdetail.jpg
Lars Hedegaard (Photo: DHA)
November 18, 2014, Tuesday/ 12:31:13/ TODAY'S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL
The Danish Foreign Ministry has sent another note to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, once again asking a series of questions concerning the release of a suspect in an assassination attempt against Lars Hedegaard, a former columnist for a top Danish newspaper who is known for his outspoken criticism of Islam.
According to the Danish Berlingske daily, Denmark could not get a satisfactory response from Turkey on why and where the suspect was released as well as his whereabouts after a delegation of Danish officials visited Ankara in October.
Denmark sent a delegation of government officials to Turkey on Oct. 17 to meet with the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice regarding the status of the suspect, but is unhappy with the lack of information provided regarding the release.
Danish Justice Minister Mette Frederiksen said in October that Turkish officials had confirmed the release of the suspect, but he said they had offered no explanation as to why he was released.
Failing to get answers on the release of the suspect although more than a month had passed, Danish authorities reportedly sent another note to the Turkish Foreign Ministry requesting an urgent response to the questions asked.
Hedegaard, a historian and author known for his anti-Islamic views, was convicted of hate speech after his remarks about Muslims, a decision which was later overturned by a higher court.
On Feb. 5, 2013, Hedegaard was the target of an assassination attempt that failed when the attacker's gun jammed. The suspect, known only by the initials B.H., fled Denmark after the attempt, but he was arrested at İstanbul Atatürk Airport while trying to enter Turkey with a fake passport. Turkey did not return the suspect to Denmark, despite calls from the Danish government.
Denmark's foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, said in early November that good relations between Turkey and Denmark are more important than the Hedegaard case.
Lidegaard told Danish daily Berlingske that Turkey has helped with the release of Danish hostages in Syria, and stressed that if the country faces a similar case, it may ask for help from Turkey again.
The suspect was part of a hostage swap for 43 Turks who had been held by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants. The Turkish hostages, seized during an ISIL raid in June, were set free on Sept. 20, after 101 days in captivity. Turkey has claimed that the release was achieved purely through diplomacy.
In a related development, last month Turkey requested an explanation from the Danish authorities with regards to the recent release of 10 people who were charged with fundraising for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), stressing that combating the financing of terrorism is an international obligation for all countries.
The acquittal came at a time when several Danish officials increased their public criticism against Turkey's release of the suspect.
What do you expect from a terrorist regime? To persecute terrorists?