Extradition for joining NATO?

Erdogan wants journalists – court in Sweden puts a stop to it

Created: 2022-12-19, 4:24 p.m

By: Florian Naumann

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) demanded the extradition of exiled journalist Bülent Kenes from Sweden.

(Montage) © IMAGO/APAimages/TT/fn

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued an ultimatum to Sweden demanding the extradition of a journalist.

Nothing will come of it: A court has forbidden the step.

Stockholm – Sweden is still worried about Turkey's green light for its planned NATO membership.

Extraditions of alleged "terrorists" are right at the top of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's wish list.

But the judiciary has put a stop to at least one case: the journalist Bülent Kenes must not be allowed to get into Ankara's hands.

Because of Kenes' political beliefs, there is a risk of persecution in Turkey, Judge Petter Asp justified the verdict in a statement on Monday (December 19).

The Swedish Attorney General had previously opposed extradition.

Erdogan himself had demanded the extradition - and during a visit to Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in front of the cameras, called it a condition for Sweden's NATO membership.

Sweden's NATO accession: Court prohibits extradition - Erdogan's demand remains unfulfilled

The Turkish authorities have accused the ex-editor of the English-language newspaper

of being a member of the Gülen movement and of involvement in the failed coup attempt in 2016.

According to information from the Swedish news agency TT, Kenes was also given a suspended prison sentence seven years ago for allegedly denigrating Erdogan on Twitter.

In its decision, however, the highest Swedish court confirmed the journalist's status as a refugee.

The accusations made by the Turkish side, as well as membership in the movement of the preacher Fethullah Gülen, did not allow them to be considered sufficient grounds for extradition.

Erdogan puts pressure on Sweden: government wants to “advise” after the verdict

In a first reaction, Kenes expressed relief.

He accused the Erdogan government of fabricating the allegations against him.

"I'm a journalist, not a terrorist," he said.

It is obvious that Ankara wants to make his life as difficult as possible.

Kenes complained that Turkish media had even published photos of him and his wife and his home address.

The Swedish "Publicists' Club", the body of journalists, Rundfunk Radio, also welcomed the decision.

“In Sweden, courts decide on extraditions and not politicians.

We should be happy about that,” said Chairman Robert Aschberg.

However, the political consequences of the decision are unclear.

When asked by broadcaster SVT, Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer did not want to speculate about possible difficulties in joining NATO.

"Sweden is a rule of law state and we have regulations to deal with such matters," he said.

The government will now advise.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: This is the President of Turkey

View photo gallery

also read

Important Putin announcement on Ukraine war expected - is he putting everything on one card?

READ

10,171 euros back payment for civil servants: "I'm a bit ashamed"

READ

Puma disaster: Lambrecht draws the first conclusions – only 42 of 350 tanks fit for NATO plans?

READ

Whoever pays puts on the cape: The political lessons of the World Cup

READ

Lukashenko welcomes Putin with bread and salt – Kremlin spokesman feels compelled to deny

READ

Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My space

Sweden's government before the NATO problem: sensitive point remains open

It seems obvious, however, that Kristersson Kabinett now sees problems.

Erdogan will sooner or later use the development as proof that the conditions have not been met,

columnist Oisín Cantwell speculated in a comment.

However, the judge's verdict is binding: Foreign Minister Tobias Billström can "growl and swear as much as he likes" and Kristersson will probably reach for "the next can of antihypertensive medication".

Turkey, along with Viktor Orbán's Hungary, is the only country still preventing Sweden and Finland from joining NATO.

Erdogan is currently in the election campaign.

The two Nordic countries had applied to join the western military alliance in the face of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

During a visit to Ankara in early November, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson promised to respond in principle to Turkey's extradition demands, which affect dozens of people.

The extradition of opposition figures and Kurdish activists who have found refuge in Sweden is one of the most sensitive points in the NATO accession effort.

Most recently, however, Stockholm had also requested extradition on its part.

(

)