Danish court rules against banning PKK-related TV

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Danish court ruled on Tuesday, Jan 10, against banning a television channel that Turkey says is linked with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Today’s Zaman reported.

But in a nod to Turkish accusations, the City Court of Copenhagen fined Roj TV 400,000 euros because it was financed by the PKK and disseminates PKK propaganda.

After countless complaints and petitions from the Turkish government over a number of years, in August 2010 Denmark's public prosecution opened a court case against Roj TV, a mouthpiece for the PKK, charging it with helping to promote the terrorist group.

The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union. Roj TV has a Danish broadcasting license, but has no studios in Denmark.

Prosecutors Anders Risager and Jakob Buch-Jepsen submitted evidence of orders from PKK executives to Roj TV and photographs of Roj TV employees taken in the PKK's bases in the Kandil Mountains in northern Iraq. Buch-Jepsen said during the hearing that the evidence they put forward clearly proves that Roj TV is completely under the control of the PKK, both administratively and financially.

Turkey's ambassador to Denmark welcomed the verdict but said it was now up to the country's broadcasting board to ban it.

The TV station's attorney said he would advise his client to appeal the decision.

The court said that between February 2008 and September 2010 the TV channel had "one-sidedly and uncritically disseminated (PKK) messages, including incitement to revolt and to join the organization".

Egemen Bağış, Turkey’s EU minister, harshly criticized Danish court’s what he said “decision that serves to terror and the terrorist organization.” He termed the decision an “irresponsibility” and said this decision encouraged the terrorist organization and enabled racist mentality.

Turkish Foreign Ministry partially hailed the decision and said it is important that the decision unveiled links between the terrorist organization and a PKK-funded media organization. A Foreign Ministry statement released said this decision will be precedent in international stage in fight against terrorism.