Responding to Turkish threats to jail the Duchess of York

Friday, January 13 2012

UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass today said: “The Duchess of York has done first class work in exposing the inhuman conditions of Turkish orphanages for which we should all be thankful. “In response to her revelation the Turkish state has disgracefully threatened her with jail.

“It is now time for UK politicians to halt their fervent support for Turkish membership of the EU. It is certainly time for us to leave if they join!

“It has been suggested that the Duchess is unlikely to be extradited as the offense is not a crime under British law.

“However, if Turkey was today a member of the European Union the Duchess would be subject to the European Arrest Warrant . In which case there would be no legal process of extradition and the Duchess would be carted off to a Turkish jail to languish for two years or more before trial.

“This would be a repeat of the threats made in the West Midlands region to plane spotters from Tamworth by the Greeks and Edmond Arapi, from Leek, who was threatened with extradition to Italy, for a crime he could not have committed, under this iniquitous EU Arrest Warrant.

“It is time Britain took control over its own destiny and made law in Westminster,” added Mike Nattrass.