Ocalan's case in the ECHR postponed to September 28

Ozgur Politika
Aug 30, 2001

The case of PKK President Abdullah Ocalan, which was scheduled to begin being heard in
the European Court of Human Rights on August 31, has been delayed once again. Ocalan's
attorneys asked for an extension of time due to great difficulties in preparing the defense
because of illegal practices, and said they would ask for another extension if necessary.

The hearing of the case of PKK President Abdullah Ocalan in the European Court of Human
Rights has been postponed from August 31 to September 28 at the request of his attorneys. 

Attorney Hatice Korkut from the Century Law Firm, answering questions on the subject for
our newspaper, said that they had asked for an extension due to the difficulties they were
encountering in preparing the defense due to illegal practices. Korkut said that the possibility
existed that they would ask for another postponement as well, and pointed out that prison
administration still had not handed over all the defense material over to them. Korkut said
that they were only able to meet with their client to go over his defense once a week, and
occasionally were not able to meet with him at all for extended periods, saying that this was
not sufficient time to discuss the defense and exchange information. Korkut said that despite
the fact that it was required that Ocalan's defense material be delivered directly to them,
prison administration was keeping it to inspect themselves. 

Another delay possible

Attorney Korkut said that Ocalan was experiencing difficulties preparing his defense, largely
because of lack of means and material for putting his defense into writing and that, therefore,
the one-month extension could prove insufficient as well. If that is the case, Korkut said, they
could request another extension of time for defense preparation. 
-------------------------