Romania Refuses to Extradite Journalist to Turkey

Kamil Demirkaya at the Bucharest Appeal Court on Friday. Photo: George Calin/Inquam Photos
Kamil Demirkaya at the Bucharest Appeal Court on Friday. Photo: George Calin/Inquam Photos


Date posted: December 14, 2018

Ana Maria Luca

The Bucharest Appeal Court on Friday rejected a Turkish request to extradite a Turkish journalist, Kamil Demirkaya, known for his criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.

Romanian police detained Demirkaya on December 5 on the basis of a warrant issued by the Ankara authorities.

The extradition request was related to accusations of terrorism and affiliations with President Erdogan’s arch-enemy, the exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Demirkaya was editor-in-chief of Zaman Bulgaria, a media outlet, between 2003 and 2011. He returned to Turkey but then moved to Bucharest with his family in 2016. He currently writes for Zaman Romania

“Romania, an EU member, this way proves its respect for human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression,” Zaman Romania said in a statement welcoming the ruling. 

Turkey has put strong pressure on Balkan countries to extradite critics of the government, or teachers working for schools linked to the Gulen movement, accusing them of supporting the failed coup against the Erdogan regime in July 2016.

In March, Kosovo controversially extradited six Turkish teachers to Turkey, although Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj insisted he had not been informed about this action.

Western countries routinely turn down such extradition requests as politically motivated and as an abuse of the international so-called “red warrant” system.


Source: Balkan Insight , December 14, 2018


Related News

Police insult former Zaman columnist for not supporting Erdoğan

Speaking with the Cumhuriyet daily about his last visit to journalists in Silivri Prison in İstanbul, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Mehmet Bekaroğlu said that journalists, including Bulaç, were insulted by police officers during their questioning.

India must understand Erdogan’s ideological motives for seeking extradition of Gülenists

Since its inception in India, Hizmet is known for its peace activism, interfaith dialogue and counter-extremism. Operating in the country through interfaith dialogue centres, educational institutions and cultural associations, it is articulating an evolving narrative of peace, pluralism and non-violence based on the spiritual ideas and principles of Gülen’s progressive and dialogic narrative of Sufism, as this research paper also elaborates.

Ambassadors uneasy over Erdoğan’s orders concerning graft probe

Turkey’s ambassadors have expressed displeasure over Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks that called on them to “tell the truth” to their foreign interlocutors, saying that defending the government against corruption allegations in not the ambassadors’ business.

Chronology of Dec. 17: The stones are settling into place…

İSTANBUL Dec. 17, 2013: On the morning of Dec. 17, Turkey wakes up to a bribery and corruption operation. Simultaneous operations in İstanbul and Ankara take place after an investigation that included allegations of land being opened up to illegal city zoning, bribery and money laundering. The operations, which are carried out on the orders […]

Did PKK change its view of religious movements?

It is wrong and harmful to present Gulen Movement or create a picture that will make the Movement look as if it gets along and tries to collaborate with, or in need of help from PKK. I believe that Gulen movement will not fall into such a trap.

Why does Fethullah Gülen matter to the world?

It was believed in 2016 that Erdoğan was carrying out a witch hunt to drive Hizmet into the ground so as to completely erase its history in Turkey. However, that witch hunt never seemed to stop. In fact, it continues even today. The most recent examples are Kenya and Kyrgyzstan.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Canada grants asylum to eight Gulenists under UN protection in Mongolia

Erdogan, Gulen Combat Islamophobia, Extremism

Arbitrary intrusions and dangerous liaisons

New Book – The House of Service: The Gülen Movement and Islam’s Third Way (New York: Oxford University Press)

Turkish NGO Kimse Yok Mu handed over 296 houses for flood affectees

A Turkish coup, a family torn apart, a dramatic escape on foot: ‘Can you believe the things we went through?’

Ethio-Turkish Schools receive “Certificate of Appreciation’ from African Union

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News