May 23
GAZA:
EU condemns latest Hamas death sentences----EU, Norway condemn 3 death
sentences against killers of senior Hamas terrorist Mazen Faqha.
The European Union (EU) Heads of Mission and the Head of Mission of Norway in
Jerusalem and Ramallah on Monday condemned the 3 death sentences that were
issued in Gaza against the suspected assassin and 2 suspected accomplices in
the March death of senior Hamas terrorist Mazen Faqha.
"The Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah recall their opposition under all
circumstances to the use of capital punishment," said the statement, as quoted
by the Palestinian Authority-based Ma???an news agency.
The statement added that the EU and Norway "consider that abolition of the
death penalty contributes to the protection of human dignity and the
progressive development of human rights."
It noted that the missions considered capital punishment "to be cruel and
inhuman," and that "it fails to provide deterrence to criminal behavior, and
represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity."
"The de facto authorities in Gaza must refrain from carrying out any executions
of prisoners and comply with the moratorium on executions put in place by the
Palestinian Authority, pending abolition of the death penalty in line with the
global trend," the statement concluded.
The death sentences were handed down by a Gaza court on Sunday. The court ruled
that Ashraf L., Faqha's alleged killer, was guilty of collaborating with "a
hostile foreign entity" and premeditated murder.
The military court said he had been collaborating with an Israeli intelligence
officer and "provided sensitive information about resistance and fighters" in
return for money.
Faqha, a convicted terrorist released in the 2011 Shalit deal, was shot by
unknown assailants in his Gaza home in March.
Hamas authorities in Gaza accused Israel of being behind his death immediately
after it happened, and threatened to get Israel back for any action by Israeli
security forces against Hamas senior officials.
Following Faqha's death, Hamas released a video in which it threatened to
eliminate senior Israeli officials.
The group has arrested dozens of Gazans on charges of collaborating with Israel
following the killing of Faqha.
Hamas regularly claims to have captured "Israeli spies", and many times it
tries them and sentences them to death.
In theory all execution orders in the Palestinian Authority's (PA) territories
must be approved by PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in Ramallah and who
imposed a moratorium on executions several years ago.
Hamas no longer recognizes Abbas's legitimacy, and has in the past emphatically
declared that the death penalty in Gaza can be carried out without his consent.
(source: israelnationalnews.com)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Kent politician demands return of the death penalty following Manchester terror
attack
The death penalty should be returned for terrorist crimes, according to a south
east MEP.
Janice Atkinson, who lives in Chislehurst and stood for Ukip in Folkestone and
Hythe before becoming an independent politican, made the comments in the wake
of an attack in Manchester which killed 22 people, including children.
Dozens more were left injured following the attack by a suicide bomber at an
Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on Monday night.
Speaking this morning, Ms Atkinson said: "Much needs to be done to eradicate
this evil. But there is 1 simple step which we can take now: we must bring back
the death penalty.
"This is the 1st time I have called for this. For decades I have shifted in
both directions: taking any life is wrong: it's right to execute certain types
of killers, but what about miscarriages of justice?
"The risks of miscarriages of justice have now been largely overcome by the
huge advances in DNA testing to a point of near-infallibility.
"Many will argue that I'm calling for revenge killings, motivated by hatred.
Others will argue that I'm inhumane, that we live in a civilised society.
"Then there will be those who say that the death penalty is not a deterrent,
that the warped perpetrators want in any case to die as martyrs.
"None of the above arguments stand up. Not now. We are at war and war crimes
and terror cannot be given any quarter or allowed any glimpse of victory.
"These people are not deranged psychopaths, they are indoctrinated into an
ideological belief that involves all out war against us.
"I'm not wringing my hands trying to find answers, I'm a politician, it's my
job to come up with answers.
"Today, we should announce that the death penalty will be brought back for
terrorist crimes."
(source: kentnews.co.uk)
LIBYA:
Mass Executions Alleged at Military Base----Investigate Crimes, Hold
Perpetrators to Account
Forces aligned with the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord
(GNA) attacked a military base and allegedly executed at least 30 captured
soldiers, Human Rights Watch said today. A hospital official and an eyewitness
told Human Rights Watch that soldiers from the 13th Battalion aligned with the
GNA Defense Ministry attacked the base in Brak El-Shati, in southern Libya, on
May 18, 2017, and executed troops from the 12th Battalion of the Libyan
National Army (LNA).
The head of the GNA's Presidency Council ordered an investigation and the
suspension of his defense minister and the commander of the battalion
responsible for the attack. The summary execution of persons who have been
captured or who have surrendered constitutes a war crime.
"The Government of National Accord should act on its promise to investigate
allegations that its troops executed opposing forces who had already been
rounded up," said Eric Goldstein, Middle East and North Africa deputy director
at Human Rights Watch. "The authorities need to send a strong message that such
crimes will not be tolerated which means that if the allegations are true, they
should try those responsible."
The LNA does not recognize the authority of the GNA, and instead supports rival
authorities based in the east.
A senior official in the main hospital in Brak El-Shati told Human Rights Watch
by phone that the hospital had received 75 dead as of May 19, all adult men
with the exception of 2 boys aged around 15, and that around 30 were military
personnel. The official said that all the military dead had died from gunshot
wounds, and that all had bullet wounds to their head. He also said that 5
corpses arrived at the hospital with bound arms, and another six had been
disfigured in a way that suggested their heads had been run over by a vehicle.
The official said the hospital received no one injured in the attack, nor did
it receive any casualties from the 13th Battalion. News reports quoted an LNA
spokesperson saying 141 were killed.
Human Rights Watch also spoke by phone on May 19 with a member of the LNA???s
12th Battalion who survived the attack, a member of the Libyan Red Crescent
Society Brak El-Shati, and a spokesperson from the 13th Battalion. Human Rights
Watch also reviewed extensive photo and video material related to the clashes.
Brak El-Shati military base is under the control of the LNA's 12th Battalion,
commanded by General Khalifa Hiftar. Troops from the LNA's 10th Battalion were
also present during the clashes. The LNA is allied with the Interim Government
and House of Representatives based in the eastern cities of al-Bayda and
Tobruk. The interim government is 1 of the 3 governments vying for legitimacy,
international recognition, and control of territory in Libya. The LNA forces in
the south have been engaged in an armed conflict with the 13th Battalion, an
alliance of armed groups that includes the Third Force from Misrata, the
Benghazi Defense Brigades, and other armed groups from the south. The 13th
Battalion is under the command of Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, the GNA defense
minister. The GNA, based in Tripoli, is the only Libyan government recognized
by the UN Security Council.
According to the 12th Battalion soldier who witnessed the attack and asked to
remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, elements of the 13th Battalion based
in the nearby Tamenhint airbase, about 60 kilometers away, staged the surprise
attack at around 9:30 a.m. The eyewitness said that the heavily-armed
attackers, who included Chadian fighters, arrived in a large convoy of black
armored vehicles.
The LNA soldier, who was at the main gate with around nine other LNA soldiers,
said the attackers came out of their cars shooting and fought their way to the
interior. The LNA soldiers returned fire but offered little resistance once the
attackers had penetrated the base. The 13th Battalion withdrew 5 or 6 hours
after arriving, taking prisoners.
Hiding under an overturned car during the attack, the LNA soldier said he saw
nine comrades executed:
I saw the attackers catch my nine comrades who had been running with me from
the main gate. They were disarmed, lined up in a row, and made to kneel on the
ground. The attackers then sprayed them with bullets, and once they were lying
on the ground dead, the attackers shot each and every one of them in the head.
As they were shooting they were shouting, "You apostates, you enemies of God."
The soldier said that there did not seem to be much resistance in the base, but
that he could hear intermittent shooting, which he believed to be "executions."
He said 1 or 2 of his comrades survived by hiding among the dead, but that the
attackers killed all the military personnel who did not hide or escape. He said
they also killed civilian cooks, workers, and medical personnel. However, they
did not harm detainees held by military police at the base. The soldier said
that the attackers caused much destruction and looted vehicles, military
equipment, and weapons.
According to the hospital official, the 75 bodies received included 2 migrant
workers from Niger whose job was to unload food trucks at the base. He said the
dead included 2 civilians unconnected to the base who were killed on the road.
He said that relatives who accompanied one victim to the hospital told him the
man had been shot in front of his family. The other, a truck driver, had been
shot in the head, and both his arms broken. The hospital official said the
retreating forces set ablaze the food warehouse and some trucks. He added that
the nonmilitary victims were killed by gunfire but unlike the military victims
did not have execution-style shots to the head.
Human Rights Watch reviewed at least 80 photographs and several videos that
seemed to show the May 18 attack; they appeared to corroborate witness
statements about the incident. The photographs showed mainly dead men, some in
uniform, many with what appears to be a single gunshot wound to the front of
the head. One video shows a group of 4 LNA detainees from the Brak El-Shati
airbase in the back of a pickup truck, shackled, handcuffed, and blindfolded
while fighters, seemingly from the 13th Battalion, give them water to drink as
they talk about the events at the base.
Another video, shot from inside a car, shows a convoy driving on a desert road;
the passengers say they are from the Benghazi Defense Brigades on their way to
attack Brak El-Shati. The video then shows around 9 dead men face down as an
unidentified person shoots at them and a voice calls them "mercenaries of
Hiftar and dogs of Hiftar." Human Rights Watch cannot independently verify the
videos or photos.
Mohamed Alghiwan, a spokesman for the 13th Battalion, told Human Rights Watch
that forces from the battalion had attacked the Brak El-Shati base on May 18 in
retaliation for many attacks on their Tamenhint base. Alghiwan denied that
forces linked to the battalion had committed summary executions or any other
laws-of-war violations during the attack.
Alghiwan added that the 13th Battalion suffered no injuries or deaths in the
attack and took 14 or 15 prisoners. He said the battalion would release only
civilian detainees.
All parties to a conflict are required to abide by the laws of war. Certain
serious violations of the laws of war, when committed with criminal intent,
such as executions of civilians or enemy fighters who had been captured or had
surrendered, are war crimes. Anyone who commits, orders, or assists, or has
command responsibility for war crimes, can be subject to prosecution by
domestic courts or international courts. Commanders may be criminally liable
for war crimes of their subordinates if they fail to hand over those
responsible for prosecution.
"Senior commanders need to understand that they too can be implicated in war
crimes unless they act resolutely to stop them and punish those responsible,"
Goldstein said.
(source: Human Rights Watch)
PHILIPPINES:
Filipino Catholics in 'show of force' against death penalty----Church leaders,
activists up pressure on Senate to vote against capital punishment
Church leaders in the Philippines admit they need to "make more noise" because
"people have not yet awakened" about issues that are contrary to the teachings
of their faith.
Priests, nuns, and rights activists joined forces on May 21 in what was
supposed to be a "show of force" to block the proposed revival of capital
punishment in the Philippines.
A group of pilgrims that embarked on a 21-day cross-country march from the
southern Philippines joined the protest march and Mass in Manila.
"This is part of the education of people," said Auxiliary Bishop Broderick
Pabillo of Manila. He said people "still don't understand the issue and its
relationship to our faith."
Church leaders need to "continue to evangelize [and] to stand to the challenges
that the times present to us," the prelate said.
"Let us make a stand and tell the government that the death penalty is not the
solution to criminality," said Bishop Pabillo.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan exhorted those who attended the Mass to
continue opposing "anti-life policies" proposed by the government.
Not against Duterte
Father Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the social action secretariat of
the Philippine bishops' conference, clarified that the protest march was not
aimed against President Duterte.
"This is not anti-Duterte or anything," said Father Gariguez. "This is a stand
against death penalty," he said, adding that the intention of the march was to
bring the message to senators.
The bill reviving capital punishment for drug-related crimes was passed by the
Lower House in March, but Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said the
measure is already "dead" in the Senate.
Father Gariguez, however, said those opposed to the proposed measure "would
like to get the support of as many senators as possible."
"We are happy that some senators are supporting us on this," he said. "It goes
beyond adhering to the church's position because [opposition to death penalty]
is universal," added the priest.
Symbolic gesture
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila earlier urged Filipinos to join the
movement to oppose the revival of capital punishment.
He said the "caravan for life" is an "opportunity to find ways of fighting
crime ... without resorting to measures that also violate life like capital
punishment."
Jesuit Father Jose Ramon Villarin, president of Ateneo de Manila University,
said the march was "largely a symbolic gesture" that he hoped will create some
waves.
The priest said a legislation that will revive the death penalty is "an
additional burdensome law" that will not deter crime and will only be a
"temporary solution."
Father Villarin said the caravan of at least 15 pilgrims shows that opposition
to the revival of capital punishment is "not an elitist thing."
"The people from the basic sectors are here. These are people from all walks of
life and they are speaking about issues that are close to their hearts," he
said.
The priest noted that while it might take some time to block the passage of the
proposed law, "I think it is important that we have made our voice heard this
early."
The Philippine Senate is set to tackle the proposed death penalty law, which
was earlier passed by the Lower House of Congress, on May 24.
(source: ucanews.com)
PAKISTAN:
Pak Senate panel demand death penalty for ex-TTP spokesperson
A Pakistan Senate panel has strongly criticized the government's 'special
treatment' for former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah
Ehsan, and demanded that he treated as a terrorist, and be given the death
penalty as per the laws of the land.
The Senate's Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics demanded that he not
be treated like a guest or be fed in 5-star hotels.
They said that he was known to have played football with the severed heads of
Pakistani soldiers.
The Ministry of Defence was further pulled up for presenting Ehsan on
television channels, saying that the image of the country has taken a beating
as a result.
Committee chairman Rehman Malik said, "Liaquat Ali alias Ehsanullah Ehsan is
not an innocent person but a hardcore terrorist. He should be arrested in the
FIR of Malala's case. He should be nominated in all cases for which he claimed
responsibility."
"His glorification is against the law. He had no symptoms of being ashamed in
his confessional statement," Malik added.
The Express Tribuen further quoted him, as saying that the entire nation wants
to see him hanged. He said he deserved punishment similar to what Jadhav has
been given.
(source: dnaindia.com)
*****************
Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly calls for Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling for the
implementation of the death sentence handed down by a Pakistani military court
to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. The resolution moved by Mufti Said Janan
of the Jamiat- i-Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) was signed by Pakistan Tehreek-
e-Insaf, Jamaat Islami, Awami National Party, the Qaumi Watan Party, and
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).
The resolution claimed that Jadhav was a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent
"involved in subversive activities in Pakistan" and had admitted his crimes
before the interrogation team. He was arrested by Pakistani intelligence
agencies on charges of "spying", the resolution said.
The Assembly demands that the provincial government should recommend to the
federal government to implement the death sentence in accordance with the
Pakistani laws, it said.
The resolution comes just days after the Hague-based International Court of
Justice (ICJ) stayed Jadhav's execution and also endorsed the Indian request
for consular access to him.
India moved the ICJ against the death penalty on 8 May.
Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and
India. The 2 countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad
sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft.
(sopurce: firstpost.com)
IRAN:
UN Experts Urge Halt to Iran's Executions of Juveniles
Iran has a history of executions for a variety of crimes, and age rarely
impacts the choice of sentence. Currently, there are at least 90 people on
death row in Iran under the age of 18, according to United Nations human rights
experts. They urged authorities to abide with international law and immediately
stop these executions. This call comes as 2 people, one 17 at the time of his
sentencing and on 15, were given dates for their executions.
"These executions must be halted immediately and the death sentences quashed.
We also call on Iran to commute without delay all such sentences imposed on
children," said Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Benyam Dawit Mezmur,
Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Mahdi Bohlouli, who was 17 at the time of his sentencing in 2001, was due to be
executed on April 19. His execution was halted a few hours earlier but the
current status of his execution is unclear. Meanwhile, Peyman Barandah, who was
sentenced in 2012 at the age of 15, is scheduled to be executed on May 10.
"These 2 cases bring the total of juvenile offenders scheduled for execution
that we have become aware of in Iran since January to 6. They include the cases
of 2 young persons whose executions was carried out," the experts noted.
In 2013, the Iran penal code was amended to allow the possibility of juveniles
sentenced to death to be allowed retrials. Later, assurances were given in 2016
by Iran to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that this amendment
would apply systematically for all juveniles who are currently on death row.
In addition, the experts pointed out that by ratifying both the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, Iran has committed itself to protecting and respecting children's right
to life as well as to outlaw the death penalty for all those under the age of
18.
"These promises have not been fulfilled: Some of the young men executed
recently were not even aware of the possibility of retrials, and the requests
made by Mahdi Bohlouli and Peyman Barandah for retrial were simply rejected by
the Supreme Court," according to the experts. In other cases, the juveniles
were simply sentenced to the death penalty again after being retried.
(source: themediaexpress.com)
NIGERIA:
Death penalty for kidnappers in Benue as Ortom signs 2 bills into law
It is no longer business as usual for kidnappers in Benue State, as the
anti-kidnapping bill signed into law by Governor Samuel Ortom has slammed death
penalty on any kidnapper found liable.
Governor Ortom at the stakeholders meeting held on Monday at government house,
Makurdi shows stringent penalties for kidnappers, hostage taking, cult members,
their accomplices and other similar offences.
Traditional rulers, prominent political office holders both at national amid
state levels, politicians and others in their categories were in attendance
where governor Ortom presented his midterm score card.
The 2 executive bills signed into law are; Adoption, hostage taking, kidnapping
secret cult and similar offences as well as open grazing prohibition and
ranches establishment law, 2017.
The former law gives more stringent penalty for offenders and accords more
power to law enforcements agents than the latter.
Going by the highlights of the 1st law, it stipulates that anyone whose house
is used for unlawful detention and kidnapping if found guilty is liable to
death sentence.
Detonation of explosive instrument within the state will now attract 5 years
while anyone found to be a member of secret cult is liable to 10 years without
option of fine.
The law also stated that whoever is found guilty of hostage taking and found
guilty will earn 10 years jail term while any act of terrorism attracts liable
punishment of 14 yrs.
Also whoever permits his premises to be used for hostage taking such property
will be forfeited to government, also any threat to person on kidnapping is
liable to 7 years jail terms.
The new law also stipulates that any public office holders who sponsor
kidnapping and found liable will be removed from office and risk 3 years in
jail, it also added that anyone in possession of illegal firearms in state will
and upon conviction be jailed for 3 years while whoever aids cultism is also
liable to 3 years jail term.
The anti grazing law provides that anyone who engages in open grazing in Benue
State and on conviction will now be liable for 5 years imprisonment.
The new law provides for monetary compensation in case of any damage to a
property and imprisonment of 2 years of the livestock owner or manager in case
of injury to any person in the state.
"Where such contravention causes the death of any person within the state, the
owner or manager of such livestock shall be guilty of an offense of culpable
homicide punishable under the penal code law".
It also provides that anyone who engages in cattle rustling shall be liable on
conviction for imprisonment of a term not less than 3 years or payment of
100,000 per animal or both.
(source: Nigerian Tribune)
MALAYSIA:
Amnesty calls for halt to execution of man on death row
Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) has called on the Government to stop the
imminent execution of a man who was sentenced to death for shooting at
policemen during an armed robbery in 2002.
AIM executive director Shanimi Darshni Kaliemuthu said in a statement that the
family of Yong Kar Mun, 48, received a letter on Monday asking them to visit
him for the last time at 9am on Tuesday at the Sungai Buloh Prison.
Shamini said that based on existing practice, the execution is expected to take
place this week.
Yong was sentenced to death by the High Court in March 2009. He failed in his
appeals at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court in October 2011 and August
2012.
He was sentenced to death in 2009 under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased
Penalties) Act 1971, which carries the mandatory death penalty.
Yong was charged with bank robbery and opening fire at Julayili Hassan, Yusry
Awang Takung and Abdul Ghani Ahmad and Mohd Fadzil Ibrahim with the intention
of causing death or injury.
He was accused of committing the crime with Teng Mun Hoong, 40, who was shot
dead during their attempt to flee after the incident at Bandar Sri Damansara on
June 3, 2002.
"The imposition of the mandatory death penalty is prohibited under
international law, which also states that, in countries where it has not yet
been abolished, the imposition of the death penalty must be restricted to 'the
most serious crimes', meaning intentional killing," said Shamini.
She added information isn't made publicly available on individual death penalty
cases and families are often informed merely days before that their loved ones
will be executed.
(source: thestar.com.my)
********************
Amnesty wants halt to execution of death row inmate----It adds that according
to international law, the mandatory death penalty can only be handed out for
'the most serious crimes' such as intentional killings.
Amnesty International Malaysia wants the government to immediately halt the
execution of a man on death row, expected to take place any time within the
next 72 hours.
It said Yong Kar Mun, 48, had "days, if not hours, left to live", adding that
based on existing practice, the execution was expected to take place this week.
"Yong's family received a letter by hand from the Sungai Buloh Prison at 2pm
today, asking the family to visit him for the last time tomorrow at 9am. "The
family does not know when Yong will be executed," Amnesty International
Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said in a statement
today.
Yong has been on death row since March 2009. He was sentenced to death under
Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, which carries the
mandatory death penalty, read together with Article 37 of the Penal Code, after
being found guilty of discharging a firearm during an armed robbery.
Although no casualties occurred as a result of the robbery, another man
involved in the act of robbery was shot dead during the subsequent police
chase.
Yong failed in his appeals to the Court of Appeal on Oct 6, 2011 and Federal
Court on Aug 2, 2012.
Noting that the imposition of the mandatory death penalty is prohibited under
international law, Amnesty International added that even in countries where it
had not been abolished, the same law restricts the death penalty to "the most
serious crimes", meaning intentional killing.
It said information is hardly made publicly available on individual death
penalty cases, and that families are often informed merely days before their
loved ones are executed.
"The lack of transparency around executions in Malaysia is a violation of
international law and standards.
"Families must have sufficient time to prepare for the last visit and take any
further recourse available at the national or international level. To date,
they still do not know when the execution is due to be carried out," Shamini
said.
"Amnesty International Malaysia does not downplay the seriousness of the crimes
committed, but we urge the authorities to consider introducing more effective
crime prevention measures that respect human rights instead of continuously
using one that has no merit."
The NGO also called on the government to immediately impose a moratorium on
executions with a view to full abolition.
(source: freemalaysiatoday.com)
TURKEY:
Turkey opens trial of suspected military coup plotters----Trial of 221 main
suspects of July 15 coup bid begins amid heavy security and calls for death
penalty.
More than 220 suspects, including over two dozen former Turkish generals, have
gone on trial accused of being among the ringleaders of the attempted coup last
year aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Protesters outside Turkey's largest courtroom in the Sincan district of Ankara
called on Monday for the death penalty for the accused and flung rope nooses at
the defendants as they were paraded into court handcuffed and held by the
security forces.
Erdogan: Turkey coup bid 'an act of treason'
"We want the death penalty, we don't want them to be fed and housed here. We
want these traitors to be buried without any flag," said protester Cengiz
Ozturk.
Turkey abolished the death penalty as part of its drive to join the European
Union but Erdogan has on occasion indicated it could be reimposed to deal with
the coup plotters.
There was heavy security in place on Monday, with a drone flying overhead and
armoured security vehicles on site as well as snipers on the roof.
Hearings at the trial, one of the largest of several coup-related trials taking
place across Turkey, are expected to last until June 16.
Turkey blames the attempted July 15 putsch on the US-based Muslim cleric
Fethullah Gulen, a claim he strongly denies, and has launched a relentless
purge under a state of emergency against those deemed to have backed the plot.
Gulen is among 12 of the 221 suspects in the current trial who remain at large,
with the remainder appearing in court for the 1st time inside a prison complex
in Sincan.
26 generals are among those charged, including former air force chief Akin
Ozturk and Mehmet Disli, the brother of senior ruling party lawmaker Saban
Disli.
Also on trial is colonel Ali Yazici, Erdogan's former military aide, and
Lieutenant Colonel Levent Turkkan, who was the aide of Chief of Staff General
Hulusi Akar.
The most prominent figure among the suspects, Ozturk was dressed crisply in a
black sweater and held a blue file as he was led into the court.
His appearance contrasted with the last known image of him which showed him
bearing injuries including a bandaged ear after his capture 2 days after the
coup bid.
Almost 40 of those on trial are accused of being part of the "Peace At Home
Council", the committee established by the suspected coup plotters to replace
the government if the putsch had succeeded.
The charges against them include "violating the constitution", "using coercion
and violence in an attempt to overthrow" the parliament and the Turkish
government, "martyring 250 citizens" and "attempting to kill 2,735 citizens",
Hurriyet daily reported on Sunday.
The attempted putsch left 248 people dead, according to the Turkish presidency,
not including 24 coup-plotters killed on the night.
(source: aljazeera.com)
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