Germany extradites islamic militant to Turkey

Muhammed Metin Kaplan, an Islamic militant
suspected of devising a 1998 plot to crash a plane into the
mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was extradited from Germany
to Turkey on 12 October.

German authorities have deported Metin Kaplan,
the leader of an Islamic fundamentalist group, to his
native Turkey right after a court approved his
extradition. An administrative court in Cologne ruled on
12 October that the Turkish islamic militant Kaplan
remains “an identification figure for Islamic
extremism” and that his interest in staying in
Germany is “outweighed by the public interest in an
immediate deportation.” His extradition had
previously been delayed by concerns that his followers
have been subjected to torture in Turkey and that he
could face political persecution. Just hours after the
court’s decision, police arrested him in an internet
café and took him to Düsseldorf airport, where
he was put in a small private jet bound for Istanbul,
ending months of legal wrangling.

Muhammed Metin Kaplan will face treason charges in
Turkey for allegedly trying to destroy a major Turkish
landmark. Turkey has sought Kaplan for trial on charges
that he masterminded a failed 1998 plot to crash a plane
laden with explosives into the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, founder of the modern secular Turkish state. The
attack was to happen when thousands of officers, students
and foreign dignitaries were visiting the site for a
ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of
the secular republic. Kaplan had chartered a jet for
the attack, but the alleged plot was foiled when Turkish
police arrested 23 suspected members of Kaplan’s
group the day before the ceremony. Kaplan has denied the
allegation. He has, however, declared a jihad or
‘holy war’ against the secular Turkish
republic.

Mr. Kaplan, known as the Caliph of Cologne, is
the founder and chief leader of an organization, known as
the Caliphate, which calls for the overthrow of
Turkey’s secular government and its replacement with
an Islamic state.  Kaplan’s Caliphate State
group was banned by the German government after the
Sept. 11 attacks in a move to crack down on Islamic
extremists.

Kaplan’s extradition to Turkey was made possible
after Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2002. Turkey
has introduced measures to crack down on torture to meet
European Union conditions for membership. It assured the
German government that Kaplan would get a fair trial.

Read more with Euractiv

EU to reopen Serbia & Montenegro talks

The EU aims to put Serbia and Montenegro back on track for possible membership.