Date posted: July 17, 2017

TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the Greens faction in the EU parliament calls on Georgia not to extradite a school manager to Turkey.

“To be a teacher is not a crime,” said Rebecca Harms, a German politician who is current head of the Greens-European Free Alliance in the EU parliament.

She was speaking at a press conference in Tbilisi after visiting Mustafa Emre Cabuk in prison on Sunday.

Cabuk was detained in May. The Demireli School in Tbilisi where he works is part of the educational network of the US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom Turkey blames for the failed coup attempt in July, 2016.

Lawyers warn that he may face inhumane treatment in Turkey if extradited.

Last week, Cabuk asked for political asylum in Georgia, but the Georgian government turned down his request. Harms urged authorities to offer him refugee status.

She was appearing alongside Cabuk’s wife and lawyers at another Gülen-linked school, called Skhivi.

“I am convinced that @governmentGeo @coe & EU memberstates must be principled. Extradition to Turkey is impossible,” Harms wrote on Twitter.

Thanks to @GovernmentGeo to organise visit in prison.Thanks to staff in prison for treating Mr.Cabuk nicely.To be a teacher is not a crime. https://t.co/RaJV8LtBCj

— Rebecca Harms (@RebHarms) July 16, 2017

Harms also met with Leila Mustafaeva, wife of Azerbaijani investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, whose abduction in Tbilisi in May sparked outrage, particularly about the alleged involvement of Georgian law enforcers. Harms called on Georgian authorities to conduct a fair and independent investigation into the case.

Source: Democracy & Freedom Watch , July 17, 2016

Tags: Education | Georgia | Hizmet-inspired schools | Persecution of Hizmet by Erdogan |