ECHR accepts occupation suit against France

Written by Administrator

Monday, 02 January 2006

European Court of Human Rights on Monday in the southern Turkish city of Hatay accepted the occupation suit against France about French occupation of Hatay during the First World War by the two Turkish teachers. Lawyer of the teachers, Maruf Kaymaz, held a press conference to explain the two billion euros compensation suit with his clients, Turkish history teacher Yavuz Menderes Canbolat and Geography Teacher Osman Ozay. Lawyer Kaymaz stated that "ECHR accepted our suit against France for one billion euro material loss claim and one billion euro emotional loss claim. The suit was opened at the establishment date of the Turkish Republic on October 25th and expected to start next days. We think that ECHR is a neutral court. ECHR is also closed to the foreign pressure. When Germany occupied the Alsace-Lauren province of France in World War Two, France brought a suit against Germany and won the suit. We took this case into consideration. We hope that suit will be an example to the other countries." Turkish History Teacher Yavuz Menderes Canbolat also stressed that "Just 13 days after the Moudros Armistice, French troops occupied the Iskenderun and Hatay until 1938. Turkish citizens were killed during 20 years by French troops at the districts of Dortyol, Kirikhan, Altinozu and Samandag. We think that this suit is an expression of our respect and love to the founder of Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his soldiers. We believe that ECHR will be sensitive about that suit." Italian and French forces, part of Allies, invaded some provinces including Hatay in the southern Turkey following the First World War which caused the fall of Ottoman Empire.

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