Turkish father goes on trial over son's gay "honour killing"

Europe News

Sep 8, 2009, 12:23 GMT

Istanbul - A Turkish father accused of murdering his homosexual son in a so-called 'honour killing' went on trial in the Uskudar municipality of Istanbul Tuesday. Yahya Yildiz, 49 - who is on the run and is being tried in absentia - is accused of shooting his 26-year-old son Ahmet in June 2008 after the latter told him about his relationship with a man from Cologne in Germany. Human rights organisations were monitoring the start of the case after complaints were made that Turkish courts did not make enough effort to prosecute in cases where homosexuals were murdered. Ibrahim Can, the victim's German-Turkish boyfriend, demanded that those who had helped the murderer also be prosecuted. But, he said, 'my expectations from the trial are minimal'. The prosecution claims the family had not accepted the son's homosexuality. Ahmet, who was about to complete his training as a physics teacher, had been threatened as a result. The father had hired a car for the murder, which was seen at the scene of the crime. His mobile phone records showed that he was in the area where the murder took place, the proseuction said. A nearby resident was also shot in the attack. She is a joint plaintiff in the case.

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Turkish father goes on trial over son's gay "honour killing"

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