ATHENS: Greece’s Sup­reme Court on Monday postponed an expected ruling on whether to extradite eight Turkish officers sought by Ankara over July’s failed military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A justice source said the decision will be announced on Thursday as one of the presiding judges fell ill.

The case involves eight Turkish military officers who landed a helicopter in the northern Greek city of Alexandroupolis in July, a day after the botched coup against Erdogan.

Earlier in January, Supreme Court prosecutors had argued against sending the officers back to Turkey, citing fears about their safety and rights to an impartial trial.

The officers say that members of their families have been sacked from their jobs and had their passports confiscated.

They deny having taken part in the putsch and claim their lives are in danger.

Their applications for asylum in Greece in July were rejected but appeals are currently being processed.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.