A man in Greek custody wanted by Turkey on terrorism charges will not be extradited, an Athens court ruled on Tuesday.
Forty-eight-year-old Turkish national Naci Ozpolat was among a nine-strong group of suspected radicals detained by Greek counter-terrorism police late last year.
Turkey wants Ozpolat for his alleged ties to the leftist Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C), which is listed as a terrorist organization by both Ankara and Athens.
Although he and the group of suspected militants are facing Greek criminal charges, Ozpolat will not be extradited to Turkey.
The suspects are accused of being members of the DHKP-C — responsible for bombings and assassinations in Turkey — and were allegedly planning an attack during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 2017 visit to Greece.
Forged passports and IDs were found in the suspects’ possession during raids, as well as bomb-making materials and guns.
Wednesday’s ruling follows last month’s decision not to extradite another DHKP-C suspect, Mehmet Dogan, 60.
The Greek court said it accepted Dogan had already been recognized as a political refugee by France and said this did not allow for his return to Turkey, where he could face ill treatment.
This latest ruling is likely to anger Turkey, which is also demanding the return of eight former Turkish servicemen accused of involvement in 2016’s coup attempt.
Turkey also has two Greek soldiers in custody, since the pair illegally entered the country last week.
