Gündem and Millet Newspapers’ Case was on trial at Thrace Court of Appeal

Thrace court of appeal held the trial of Gündem and Millet vs. Hara Nikopoulou Case on 22 March 2013. Following Gündem and Millet newspapers’ press release in relation to Mega Derio Minority School Teacher Hara Nikopoulou’s asking the pupils “to draw Allah’s picture”, the two dailies were sued by Hara Nikopoulou and subsequently been sentences to 150.000 Euros (Gundem) and 120.000 Euros (Millet) fines by the Xanthi Multi-Judge Court of First Instance.

FUEN President Hansen and MIDAS Governing Board Member Brezigar were also present at the trial

In solidarity with Gündem and Millet Newspapers, who appealed the case at Thrace Court of Ap-peal on grounds of excessive fines of compensation, Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) President Hans Heinrich Hansen, European Association of Daily Newspapers in Minority and Regional Languages (MIDAS) Governing Board Member Bojan Brezigar and Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) President Halit Habipoğlu were present at the trial as observing attendees.

Many other minority institutions attended the trial in support to Gundem ve Millet cause

Many other institutions representing Western Thrace Turkish Minority attended the trial on 22 March morning in support to Gündem ve Millet cause. DIMAR Rodopi Municipal Council partici-pated in the trial in pioneership of former Member of Parliament (New Democracy/Rodopi Prefecture) MP candidate (DIMAR/Rodopi Prefecture) Ilhan Ahmet. The trial of the case, attended by MP Terens Kuik (Independent Greeks) in support to Hara Nikopoulou, has been concluded with Thrace Court of Appeal’s approval of appeal by Gündem and Millet. A declaration on the verdict of court is expected within four month-period.