Case N° TK/64 - IBRAHIM AKSOY - TURKEY

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 158th session
(Istanbul, 20 April 1996)

The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Having before it the case of Mr. Ibrahim Aksoy, a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which has been the subject of a study and report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, in accordance with the "Procedure for the examination and treatment by the Inter-Parliamentary Union of communications concerning violations of human rights of parliamentarians",

Taking note of the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/158/13(a)-R.1), which contains a detailed outline of the case,

Also taking note of the report of the mission of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians ((CL/158/13(a)-R.2) to Ankara on 11 and 12 April 1996,

Considering that Mr. Aksoy was elected in 1987 on an SHP (Social Democratic Popular Party) ticket; that he was later expelled from that party and founded together with other MPs the HEP (People's Workers Party),

Considering that he remained a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) until 1991,

Considering that on 18 May 1991, while he was still a parliamentarian, the State Security Court of Konya instituted proceedings against him under Article 8, para. 1, of the Anti-Terrorism Act for propaganda against the indivisibility of the State in a speech given on 18 May 1991 at an HEP party congress in Konya,

Considering that in March 1994 the Court convicted him of that offence and sentenced him to 20 months' imprisonment and a fine of approximately 42 million Turkish pounds; that in July 1995, while Mr. Aksoy was abroad, this judgment was confirmed by the Ninth Chamber of the Court of Cassation,

Considering that, on his return to Turkey in October 1995, Mr. Aksoy was immediately arrested at the airport and that a German parliamentarian travelling with him was prevented from accompanying him any further and denied any information as to where he was to be taken,

Considering also that, according to the source, following the adoption of an amendment to Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on 27 October 1995, Mr. Aksoy's trial was reviewed, resulting in a reduction of his sentence to 10 months' imprisonment,

Considering that Mr. Aksoy is currently held in Ankara State Security Prison (Ulunçalar Prison), where the Committee's mission was able to meet him,

Considering that the source fears that Mr. Aksoy has been prosecuted and convicted solely for having exercised his right to freedom of expression,

1. Fully endorses the conclusions of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians regarding its mission to Ankara on 11 and 12 April 1996;

2. Wishes to receive a copy of the judgment whereby Mr. Aksoy was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment;

3. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining the case and to report to it at its next session (September 1996).