The Supreme Court approved the extradition of a leader of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), which Switzerland considers a criminal organisation.
According to German authorities, the man recruited people for the People’s Defence Forces (known by its Kurdish acronym HPG), the military wing of the PKK.
The court points out that the crime allegedly committed by the accused is punishable both in Switzerland and Germany, which is a necessary condition for extradition.
The judgment was published on Wednesday. In it, the court found it relevant to the case that the HPG had committed several terrorist attacks in Turkey between 2014 and 2016.
The military support that the HPG gave United States-backed Kurdish combatants in the fight against the Islamic State group had no bearing on the decision.
The legal distinction between legitimate resistance and terrorist crime is one of the most sensitive tasks in the field of international judicial assistance, the Lausanne-based court noted.
The Turkish man of Kurdish descent was arrested at Zurich airport last November in response to a request from German law enforcement authorities which had listed him as wanted months earlier.
The PKK, which has bases in northern Iraq and offshoots in Syria, has waged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey. It calls for greater cultural and political rights for Kurds. Ankara sees the PKK and its associates as a terrorist group.
The Kurds are considered the largest ethnic group without a nation state. Most of them live in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Why liberal Switzerland is opposed to the Sarco suicide capsule
Switzerland condemns rocket attack on Golan Heights sports pitch
This content was published on
The Swiss foreign ministry has condemned a rocket attack on a football pitch in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of twelve children and young people.
Groundbreaking claims expected after Crowdstrike IT breakdown
This content was published on
The claims for damages following the recent global IT breakdown of Crowdstrike are expected to be groundbreaking, according to Matthias Stürmer, a professor of digitalisation at Bern University of Applied Sciences.
Swiss National Bank Chairman encourages public engagement in financial issues
This content was published on
Jordan emphasised the importance of financial literacy, noting its relevance in everyday life, such as when looking for a job, taking out a mortgage, preparing for retirement or saving.
No Swiss Federal Council speech at Rütli for August 1 celebrations
This content was published on
Traditionally, a member from the Swiss Federal Council makes an appearance on the Rütli meadow in canton Uri during the August 1 celebrations.
Swiss government investigates historical treatment of Yenish people
This content was published on
The Swiss government has commissioned a legal opinion to clarify Switzerland's role in the treatment of the Yenish community.
Switzerland participates in ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting
This content was published on
This engagement was part of a four-day tour of Southeast Asia, aimed at advancing the Swiss Federal Council's Southeast Asia Strategy.
Majority of shareholders approve sustainability reports of major Swiss companies
This content was published on
Shareholders have approved the sustainability reports of the largest Swiss companies by a large majority at their annual general meetings.
EU releases €1.5B frozen assets to Ukraine: Switzerland opts out
This content was published on
The EU announced the release of €1.5 billion (CHF1.44 billion) in aid to Ukraine. Switzerland will not follow the EU's approach.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Demo organisers not responsible for violent banner
This content was published on
Bern city police told the Swiss News Agency that organisers of the demonstration could not have taken action against the banner without escalating the situation. Thousands took to the streets of Bern on March 25 to demonstrate against the ‘anti-democratic’ actions of Erdogan in Turkey. During the demonstration, a banner was unfurled showing a gun pointed…
Swiss court blocks extradition of alleged PKK functionary
This content was published on
The court ruled that German authorities had not made enough of a case against the man, who belongs to a group that is not banned in Switzerland.
This content was published on
They say the government’s decision to rely on “diplomatic assurances” from Turkey that suspects will not be ill-treated or tortured raises serious concerns. The Swiss foreign ministry says several extradition cases are pending before the authorities and courts involving people accused of serious crimes or acts of terrorism. It says each case will be carefully…
On Swiss visit, Kurdish leader criticises Europe’s inaction
This content was published on
Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party HDP, is an outspoken critics of the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He pointed out that European criticism of Erdogan’s repression of the Kurds has been silent since the European Union made a deal to send migrants back to Turkey earlier this year. Germany…
This content was published on
Representatives of both sides in Switzerland say they live peacefully together – as long as there is no mention of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “You are not going to write what I tell you anyway,” Turgut Dagci, a project manager for…
Kurds protest in Bern at Turkish military campaign
This content was published on
The Turkish media reported on Saturday that Ankara has sent 10,000 of its troops into Northern Iraq in a major operation against rebel guerrillas of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Newpapers have reported since December that the military was building up its strength for an offensive in the remote mountainous area. The Protesters also…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.