Sweden’s top court blocks Turkish journalist’s extradition

The extradition of Bulent Kenes is a key demand by Ankara to ratify Stockholm’s NATO membership.

Bulent Kenes, a 53 year old Turkish journalist
Bulent Kenes, 53, works for the Stockholm Heart for Freedom [File: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP]

Sweden’s Supreme Courtroom has blocked the extradition of an exiled Turkish journalist, a key demand by Ankara to ratify Stockholm’s NATO membership.

There have been “a number of hindrances” to sending again former editor-in-chief of the Zaman day by day, Bulent Kenes, whom Turkey accuses of being concerned in a 2016 try and topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the court docket mentioned on Monday.

Among the accusations in opposition to Kenes aren't crimes in Sweden, which together with the political nature of the case and his refugee standing within the nation, rendered extradition unimaginable, the court docket added.

“There's additionally a threat of persecution based mostly on this individual’s political views. An extradition can thusly not happen,” choose Petter Asp mentioned in a press release.

In consequence, “the federal government … shouldn't be in a position to grant the extradition request”.

‘Fabricated’ allegations

Kenes, who now works for the Stockholm Heart for Freedom – an affiliation based by different Turkish dissidents in exile – instructed the AFP information company that he was “completely happy” by the choice and pressured the allegations in opposition to him had been “fabricated by the Erdogan regime”.

The exiled journalist is the one individual Erdogan has recognized by title amongst dozens of individuals Ankara desires extradited in trade for approving Sweden’s membership bid.

When pressed about “terrorists” he wished extradited from Sweden, Erdogan instructed reporters throughout a joint information convention with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in early November in Ankara that Kenes was on the record.

Ankara has blocked Sweden’s membership course of, with the extradition of Kurdish refugees and different Turkish dissidents the primary sticking level.

Stockholm has repeatedly pressured that its judiciary is impartial and has the ultimate say in extraditions.

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