Sweden's top court blocks Turkish journalist's extradition
Source: Al Jazeera
Sweden’s top court blocks Turkish journalist’s extradition
The extradition of Bulent Kenes is a key demand by Ankara to ratify Stockholm’s NATO membership.
19 Dec 2022
Sweden’s Supreme Court has blocked the extradition of an exiled Turkish journalist, a key demand by Ankara to ratify Stockholm’s NATO membership.
There were “several hindrances” to sending back former editor-in-chief of the Zaman daily, Bulent Kenes, whom Turkey accuses of being involved in a 2016 attempt to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the court said on Monday.
Some of the accusations against Kenes are not crimes in Sweden, which along with the political nature of the case and his refugee status in the country, rendered extradition impossible, the court added.
“There is also a risk of persecution based on this person’s political beliefs. An extradition can thusly not take place,” judge Petter Asp said in a statement.
As a result, “the government … is not able to grant the extradition request”.
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Read more: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/19/swedens-top-court-blocks-turkish-journalists-extradition