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KurdistanObserver.com
Turkey slams Denmark over Kurdish TV station
ANKARA, Nov 5 (AFP) - Turkey on Saturday
harshly criticised Denmark for failing to revoke the broadcasting license of a
Kurdish television station which Ankara says is a mouthpiece of armed Kurdish
rebels.
"They are not banning a television station which gives support to ethnic
terrorism. They have been procrastinating," Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek
was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.
"This is against EU legislation," the minister charged while on a visit to
Stockholm.
Turkey has long been asking Danish authorities to take action against Roj TV
on the grounds that the station is linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK), deemed by Turkey, the European Union and the United States to be a
terrorist organisation.
Ankara says the station, which began broadcasting in March 2004, incites
hatred and fear by expressing support for the PKK.
The Danish Radio and Television Board ruled earlier this year that the
station's programmes did not contain incitement, but said it had asked police to
look into alleged ties between Roj TV and the PKK.
Turkey has previously succeeded in ensuring the closure of two other
Europe-based Kurdish television stations. MED-TV had its license revoked in
Britain while France refused to grant a license to its successor, MEDYA-TV.
Ankara's move against Roj TV comes at a time of increasing violence in mainly
Kurdish southeastern Turkey. |
