Montenegro has declined Turkey's request to extradite Turkish citizen Binali Camgoz, an ethnic Kurd, because of suspected persecution on ethnic and religious grounds, the Justice Ministry said on January 23. Turkey claims Camgoz, who is Shi'ite, is suspected of crimes that include creating a criminal organization and attempted murder. Montenegro detained Camgoz in July on an Interpol warrant. The extradition of Camgoz, who is paraplegic and immobilized, would violate the European Convention on Human Rights, said the ministry, which has the last word on extradition matters. Camgoz, who is now in a shelter for foreigners, has applied for asylum in Montenegro. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, click here.
Montenegro Refuses To Extradite Ethnic Kurd Back To Turkey
Montenegro detained Binali Camgoz on an Interpol warrant in July.