PERSECUTION OF TURKISH JOURNALIST PERIHAN MAGDEN

Motion Text

That this House expresses its extreme concern over the issue of a warrant for the arrest under the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish penal code of Istanbul-based Turkish journalist Perihan Magden, over her article in Aktuel magazine in defence of Mehmet Tarhan, a conscientious objector imprisoned in Turkey for refusal to do compulsory military service; notes the military's demand for the harshest possible sentence by recommending a minimum of three years; is concerned that her case is due to be heard on 7th June 2006; endorses Perihan Magden's article in which she suggests that in a modern country with ambitions of joining the European Union there should be options for humanitarians other than joining the army; and calls upon the UK Government to make urgent representations on behalf of both Perihan Magden and Mehmet Tarhan to the government in Turkey.