Perilous
Times
5 Turkish officers jailed in killing of Christians
By SELCAN HACAOGLU
The Associated Press
Monday, March 21, 2011; 5:07 AM
ANKARA, Turkey -- A Turkish court ordered five military officers
and two civilians jailed Monday in a probe into the 2007 killing
of three Christians, including a German national, over allegations
that the attack was part of an alleged plot to topple the
government.
It was not clear what charges the officers were facing but their
arrests pending trial come after prosecutors examined an earlier
letter by a whistle-blower who claimed the killings of Christians
was part of a wider conspiracy to topple the Islamic-rooted
government by creating chaos and to destabilize the country to
trigger a military coup.
The Christians - a German and two Turks - were tied up and had
their throats slit at a Bible-publishing house in the southern
city of Malatya. Five civilians were arrested and charged with
murder but it was not clear if their case would be merged with the
coup plot trial.
There have a been a string of attacks in recent years on
Christians in predominantly Muslim Turkey, where Christians make
up less than 1 percent of the population of 74 million.
Prosecutors have said the alleged coup plot included plans to
target some Christians and minority figures.
Hundreds of people, including military officers, politicians and
journalists, are already on trial for allegedly attempting to
overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, which
came to power in 2002.
Critics contend that the government is using the case to jail
secular-minded foes and to silence opponents. The government
insists the trial is strengthening democratic rule in Turkey by
helping to unravel shady networks that once operated with impunity
in Turkey.
However, the recent arrests of several journalists, including two
prominent investigative reporters, sparked protests from
journalists groups and expressions of concern from Western
governments and international media rights groups.