Title: Kurdish Man Sentenced for Attempting to Extort Money for Terrorist-Labeled Organization PKK
Subtitle: Turkish Man Imprisoned and Faces Deportation Following Stockholm Court’s Verdict
Stockholm, Sweden – In a recent announcement, the Stockholm district court revealed that a Kurdish man of Turkish origin has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for attempting to extort money from a Kurdish businessman in Stockholm at gunpoint. The money was intended to support the terrorist-labeled Kurdish organization PKK. In addition to imprisonment, the man, who is in his 40s, has also been ordered to be deported and forbidden from returning to Sweden.
Chief Councilor Måns Wigén, the court’s chairman, highlighted the extensive fundraising activities of the PKK in Europe, which often involve the extortion of Kurdish businessmen. “The investigation shows, as the district court judges it, that the PKK conducts a very extensive fundraising activity in Europe using, among other things, extortion of Kurdish businessmen,” stated Wigén during a press conference.
However, the enforcement of deportation is currently facing obstacles due to concerns raised by the Swedish Migration Agency. The agency believes that the convicted man may be at risk of torture if deported to Turkey. Despite this, Wigén expressed uncertainty regarding the establishment of enforcement obstacles after the man completes his prison sentence. He argued that there is a requirement to deport the man in question.
The man had been captured on secret surveillance images alongside a high-ranking PKK leader in Stockholm. The indictment indicates that this individual actively participated in pressuring the businessman for money and was involved in the decision-making process. “The investigation shows a very clear connection between this PKK leader and the defendant,” underscored Wigén.
Turkey has repeatedly accused Sweden of being a safe haven for the PKK and demanded stricter actions against the organization as a condition for Sweden’s NATO membership. Wigén, however, clarified that the NATO process had no influence on the district court’s examination.
Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) declined to comment specifically on the sentence’s contents. He acknowledged that the outcome of the case raises crucial issues related to terrorism legislation that are of great public interest.
The convicted man has consistently denied all charges, except for those related to weapons offenses of a standard degree.
Background on the PKK:
– The Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) was established in 1978 as a Marxist party.
– The PKK’s primary objective is to establish a Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey and adjoining parts of neighboring countries.
– In 1984, the PKK began an armed struggle against the Turkish state to achieve independence.
– Turkey, the EU, and the US classify the PKK as a terrorist organization.
– In 2022, the PKK conducted 54 attacks, resulting in 40 fatalities and 150 injuries, positioning it as the eleventh deadliest terrorist organization globally according to the Institute for Economics and Peace.
– Turkey has demanded stricter measures against the PKK as a condition for approving Sweden’s NATO membership.