The Swedish Supreme Court refused to extradite the Gülenist Turkish journalist Bülent Kenes to Turkey. All this despite the fact that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded the extradition of the opposition activist by name. Ankara has indicated that it supports Sweden and Finland joining NATO only if the two countries stop supporting "terrorists" and extradite opposition figures and Kurdish refugees named by the Turkish government.
The opposition activist, who enjoys refugee status in Sweden, was also mentioned by name by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his demand for the extradition of "terrorists", the fulfillment of which he set as a precondition for the approval of Sweden's NATO accession.
Sweden's highest court says there are several obstacles to extraditing the former editor-in-chief of the English-language daily Zaman, whom Turkey accuses of taking part in the 2016 coup that ousted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The charges brought against Kenes are not considered a crime in Sweden, which, together with the political nature of the case and the refugee status granted to the journalist, makes extradition impossible, emphasized Judge Petter Aspaz.
There is also a risk of persecution due to the political beliefs of the given person. Extradition cannot therefore take place, the judge added.
The full article of Magyar Nemzet can be read here.
Image: MTI (Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson)
