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
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Prince William will attend final of Women’s Euro 2025 in Basel
This content was published on
The heir to the British throne will be watching the final of the European Women's Football Championship live in the stadium on Sunday.
Reduced fine for Credit Suisse in currency cartel case
This content was published on
The Court of Justice of the European Union has reduced the fine imposed on Credit Suisse from €83.2 million to €28.9 million, while confirming its involvement in a spot foreign exchange cartel.
This content was published on
A study conducted at the University of Zurich has shown that when animals make decisions for their group, their hearts beat faster.
Swiss firm ABB to electrify one of the largest oil and gas terminals
This content was published on
ABB has won a major contract in Azerbaijan for the electrification and grid stability of one of the world's largest oil and gas terminals, Sangachal.
Swiss railways’ ‘invisible disabilities’ lanyards prove popular
This content was published on
According to the Swiss Federal Railways, there is great interest in its lanyards for travellers with invisible disabilities.
This content was published on
A prisoner who escaped on Thursday in Baden, canton Aargau, is still on the run. The 23-year-old Albanian, who was in custody for burglary, was wearing handcuffs when he escaped.
Swiss city places information boards next to Nazi memorial
This content was published on
The city of Chur in eastern Switzerland has erected four information boards next to the Nazi memorial in the Daleu cemetery.
Swiss heat: parallels drawn with 2003 ‘summer of century’
This content was published on
Looking at the current weather situation in Switzerland, the private weather service MeteoNews has drawn parallels with the hot summer of 2003.
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.