Turkish Justice
November 22, 2007
Marco W.'s case -- and particularly the repeated delays in resolving it -- have caught the attention of the EU.
"Whether or not Marco is guilty, detaining a minor for seven months violates the EU's principles of rule of law," Silvana Koch-Mehrin, deputy head of the Liberals in the European Parliament.
On Tuesday, a court in Antalya postponed the trial once again, as a translation of the 13-year-old alleged victim's testimony was not yet available. The girl, known as Charlotte M., lives in England and refused to travel to Turkey to testify in person.
Case may impact Turkey's accession bid
President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering reportedly telephoned with EU Expansion Commissioner Olli Rehn about the case on Thursday after the trial had been suspended.
The regional publication Osnabrücker Zeitung reported on Thursday that "the presidents of all the parliamentary committees of the "European Parliament had requested that Pöttering take up the matter with Rehn.
Turkey began accession negotiations with Brussels in 2005, though human rights issues have repeatedly cast a shadow over possible membership for the country.
Berlin may back appeal
Marco W.'s legal team said following Wednesday's court ruling that it would file a complaint over the delays to the European Court of Human rights.
"We are considering the possibility of supporting such an appeal," a German foreign ministry spokeswoman told AFP, adding that the ministry would have to examine the details of the complaint before reaching a final decision.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for Turkey to release Marco W. to Germany to stand trial there. Germany, however, had turned down criticism earlier this year after Turkey claimed influencing impartial judges was a violation of democratic
The 17-year-old has been accused of sexual misconduct with a 13-year-old British girl in April in the Turkish resort town of Side. He has denied that they had sex.