PERSECUTION OF TURKISH JOURNALIST PERIHAN MAGDEN

Early day motion 2012, tabled 24 April 2006 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 38 members.

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.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 5, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, Scottish National Party 1.