Euro court fines Turkey

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

The Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors, or HSYK, initiated an investigation against judge Mehmet Emin Albayrak in 1995, alleging that he was watching pro-Kurdish MED TV and reading the Özgür Ülke newspaper, which has been frequently shut down due to allegations of being pro-Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK.

In 1997, the HSYK disclosed the conclusion of the investigation. Watching a TV channel and reading a newspaper, which has been banned because of being pro-PKK can be construed as a judge who has lost his objectivity and displayed sympathy towards the terror organization, the board stated. The board had the judge relocated, the second harshest penalty after dismissal.

After he was appointed twice, Albayrak resigned in 2001 and applied to the ECHR. Albayrak argued he was discriminated against for being a Kurd and demanded 650,000 euros in reparations. The court ruled Jan. 31, 2008 the judge be paid 5,000 euros pecuniary compensation and 6,000 euros for general damages.

However, the ECHR rejected the Albayrak’s claim he was discriminated for of being a Kurd, as saying that there was no evidence proving this claim. Instead, the court decided there was no concrete evidence that Albayrak lost his objectivity as a judge. Albayrak prepares to return to office after the court’s decision, the daily reported.