| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Turkey Acquits Christian of Crime of Establishing a Church |
| 2004-05-27 |
| In what the Hurriyet newspaper called a âjet acquittal,â a criminal court in southeastern Turkey dropped all charges yesterday against a Protestant pastor accused of opening an âillegalâ church. Pastor Ahmet Guvener was fully acquitted in the opening hearing of his case before Diyarbakirâs Third Criminal Court. The quick resolution of the case surprised both Guvener and his lawyer, Abdul Kadir Pekdemir, who said a criminal case typically extends for a year or more before a verdict is issued. But when Judge Necla Ipek asked State Prosecutor Vahdettin Taskiran to present the governmentâs case against Guvener, Taskiran declared that no sufficient grounds existed to bring charges. Instead, Taskiran stressed that under recent reforms passed in Parliament, international agreements now take precedence over national laws, granting Turkish citizens the right both individually and in community to conduct worship, as well as to teach and propagate their faith. Moments later, Ipek declared Guvener acquitted and the case closed. âItâs a great step forward for Turkey,â Guvener told Compass afterward, âfor Christians here, for religious freedom, for democracy.â |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #6 N Guard --- LOL! My surprise meter is one that is converted from a refrigeration pressure gauge with the high end retard feature. Works both literally and figuratively on middle east information and news that defies the mind!!!!! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-05-27 1:45:23 PM |
| #5 They REALLY, REALLY want EU membership, folks. My SM didn't budge one iota. Of course, ALLOWING Christian worship will be held against them by the EUrocratic elite, so this will fail as well. |
| Posted by: Ernest Brown 2004-05-27 1:25:35 PM |
| #4 Yeah, I've had an early model of the AN/WTF-5 for years, and it's been giving sterling service. Just remember to cycle from the N-A-M setting through the W-S-T! (Well, Screw That!)routine before resetting for Surprise. Adds a decade or two to the life of the unit. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2004-05-27 11:51:03 AM |
| #3 Hey spot-- try this AN/WTF-5 Military surprise meter. it hasn't burned out yet. If it exceeds its range, it goes into the emegency Numb Apathy Mode(tm). Reset and you're good to go. |
| Posted by: N Guard 2004-05-27 10:28:54 AM |
| #2 Damn, now my new surprise meter is broken too! |
| Posted by: Spot 2004-05-27 10:02:05 AM |
| #1 Now, try to build a synagogue... |
| Posted by: someone 2004-05-27 4:11:59 AM |