The Kurdish television station ROJ-TV, which broadcasts from Copenhagen, has been found guilty by a Danish court of supporting the Kurdish separatist organisation PKK and has been fined, but has not had its broadcasting licence impounded.
The Copenhagen Municipal Court ruled Tuesday that ROJ-TV has functioned as a mouthpiece for the PKK, which the US and EU list as a terrorist organisation.
“Two companies were accused of having furthered the cause of a terrorist organisation using broadcasts on a TV channel. The court found it proved that the PKK is a terrorist organisation and that the companies concerned, in the period from Feb. 7, 2008 to Sept. 10, 2010, through broadcasts from the television station had furthered the cause of the organisation,” the court said in its ruling.
In its verdict the court gave weight to the fact that in several broadcasts the television channel had broadcast PKK’s messages in a biased and uncritical way, including calls to rebellion and to join the organisation.
Punishment for each of the companies concerned was set at DKK 2.6 million, with the court having said that the channel was seen as being financed and influenced by the PKK.
Licence continues
The court did not, however, order the withdrawal of ROJ-TV’s broadcasting licence citing a legal-technical issue that the paragraph under which ROJ-TV was charged, did not permit companies to have permits withdrawn, but only individuals.
Asked whether ROJ-TV planned to appeal the decision, Defence Attorney Bjørn Elmquist said it remained to be seen.
“The companies concerned have boards and a director, and they will now discuss the issue. My advice would be to appeal,” Elmquist told reporters outside the courthouse.
Prosecutor Anders Riisager said the prosecution would now study the judgment before deciding whether to appeal to the High Court.
The controversial ROJ-TV case has been underway for six years since the Turkish state reported the television company to the police on allegations that it was the mouthpiece of the PKK.
Ambassador disappointed
Following Tuesday’s court decision, Turkey’s Ambassador to Denmark Ahmet Berki Dibek tells Ritzau that he is disappointed that ROJ-TV’s broadcasting licence has not been withdrawn and he will recommend the Danish prosecution to appeal the decision.
At the same time, Ritzau says the ambassador will apply to the Radio and Television Board to revoke ROJ-TV’s broadcasting licence.
The Radio and Television Board has previously declined to revoke ROJ-TV’s licence.