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European Court Quizzes Croatia On Kurd’s Extradition

January 19, 201818:04
The European Court of Human Rights has told Croatia to report back on the case of Kurd who risks deportation to Turkey, despite having obtained political asylum status in Switzerland.
Nurettin Oral (right) with his family. Photo: SRF screenshot

A Croatian NGO, the Centre for Peace Studies, CMS, on Friday said that the European Court of Human Right sent an inquiry to Croatia on Thursday, seeking an explanation on the case of a Turkish Kurd named Nurettin Oral.

Oral, who was arrested by Croatian police on the border with Serbia last July on an INTERPOL arrest warrant, risks being deported to Turkey, under accusations of terroristic activities in the ranks of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation in Turkey – in 1999.

After Vukovar county court ordered his extradition in November, confirmed by the Supreme court in December, the final decision was put before Justice Minister Davor Bosnjakovic, who has to sign the extradition.

Oral and his lawyer emphasise that Oral should not be extradited to Turkey because he was granted political asylum in Switzerland – where his wife and two children are – in 2005.

The court gave Croatia time to respond to the inquiry by January 23, by when the state has to report on the current status of the case, and what measures it has taken in evaluating Oral’s complaints, especially those that relate to the potential torture he may suffer if extradited to Turkey.

If Croatia decides to extradite Oral, the Court wishes to be informed when this will take place.

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