Turkish medical group leader sentenced to prison after urging chemical weapons probe
NPR Online NewsNov 26, 2022
Turkish Medical Association Chief Convicted on 'Terror’ Charge
story
Image copyright: Reuters [via Aljazeera]
The Facts
An Istanbul court on Wednesday convicted the president of the Turkish Medical Association, Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, of disseminating "terror organization propaganda."
Fincanci was arrested in October and charged with engaging in propaganda on behalf of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), though rights groups and other doctors have denounced such arrests and convictions as attempts to silence the political opposition.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Fincanci is the latest activist to be convicted under Turkey’s sweeping and undemocratic anti-terrorism laws. A forensic expert, she has spent much of her career documenting torture and ill-treatment, and this case is no different as she is clearly not participating in terrorist propaganda. Free speech is compromised in Turkey, and Fincanci is the latest activist targeted under these terror propaganda laws.
Establishment-critical narrative
Fincanci's sentencing is fair given that she broke the law by disseminating information developed by the PKK — a banned group and notorious terrorist organization. Her claims also slander Turkey’s armed forces and insult the country.
