Duchess of York wanted for extradition by Turkish police
Agamemnon
The Duchess of York could face extradition to Turkey after the authorities
issued a request for her to be questioned over an undercover television
documentary, it has emerged.
By Caroline Gammell
Published: 9:33AM BST 16 Sep 2009
The Turkish government was furious after she made a documentary into the
state of the country's orphanages which claimed that children were being
neglected and maltreated.
The Duchess, disguised in a black wig and headscarf, was accompanied by her
teenage daughter Princess Eugenie who was moved to tears by the scenes they
filmed.
She has been accused of breaking Turkey's strict privacy laws by carrying
out the secret recording.
The Turkish authorities have now passed a formal request to the Home Office
for the Duchess to be questioned, according to reports.
A source told The Sun: "We have had a request from the Turkish government
for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in relation to the Duchess of York.
"If following a police investigation, charges are laid in Turkey, the
Duchess could be arrested and extradited to appear in court in Turkey."
The Metropolitan Police refused to comment and a Home Office spokesman said:
"We would never confirm or deny the existence of MLA or extradition
requests."
The Turkish authorities have already spoken out against the Duchess,
accusing her of trying to smear the country's image in order to prevent it
joining the EU.
Nimet Cubukcu, the Turkish minister responsible for women and family, said:
"It is obvious that in this incidence that she is trying to leave Turkey in
the midst of a smudge campaign.''
But her spokesman Kate Waddington insisted the Duchess was not trying to be
political: "The Duchess of York is apolitical; therefore she has no
political motivations. This is all about the welfare of children.''
The Duchess filmed inside the Saray institution near Ankara, where more than
700 disabled children are housed.
She and the team from ITV1's Tonight programme found children tied to their
beds or left in cots all day without being taken out to be fed.
One child, who was not allowed outside, was discovered crawling along the
corridor to feel the sun on his face.
Princess Eugenie cried after visiting one centre which houses 60 disabled
children - many abandoned by their parents.
Mitsos***
Everything is "political" in Turkey. Human rights abuses in Turkey?
Anybody who claims that has "political motivations" to smear the "good"
name of Turkey. Just ask the Kurds, the Armenians, the few remaining
Pontians or Assyrians.
With people like Cubukcu Turkey should never enter the EU and if Turkey
enters anyway we should go out then.
>
> The Duchess filmed inside the Saray institution near Ankara, where more
> than 700 disabled children are housed.
>
> She and the team from ITV1's Tonight programme found children tied to
> their beds or left in cots all day without being taken out to be fed.
Shame on those responsible and shame on those who want to cover it up
now or punish the people who brought up to the light.