KurdistanObserver.com
Deputy Kaplan Ordered To Pay Penalty For Speaking In
Kurdish
Turkish Zaman
Mar 13, 2008
DTP Shırnak deputy Hasip Kaplan has been ordered to pay a fine of YTL 100 after
being accused of committing a misdemeanor that prohibits speaking in Kurdish.
According to the claim, Kaplan addressed the public in Kurdish before the
general elections on June 12 of last year while standing on a balcony of the DTP
building. He was fined on March 3.
“There was nothing, no order, demand for defense, invitation, nothing. I am a
lawyer of 30 years and I have not seen anything like this. These kinds of
punishments, court cases against us, the attitude of the Ministry of Justice,
are not acceptable. If speaking in Kurdish is a crime, we will continue to
commit this crime,” he said.
