French-Armenian Businessman Deported from Turkey for Speaking Turkish

ISTANBUL — A one-year ban on entering Turkey has been set against French-Armenian businessman Richard Demirci who was deported from Turkey for speaking Turkish Agos daily reports.

“The Police was checking the passports in the entrance of the Airport. They stopped our car, and required our passports. I gave them my French passport. First they asked are you a Turk. I gave a negative response”. Demirci said.

“You speak Turkish, how come you are not a Turk?”, they asked. I said I am Armenian with French nationality. Then they ordered me to step out of a car. Over 10-20 policemen approached the car and started asking nonsense questions. I told them I am doing a business and provide income to the country. “There is no benefit to us from gavur’s (non-Muslim) money”, they said in response. I responded them saying “You do not speak right”. After that they called me a terrorist and took me to the place where they keep foreigners. That night I stayed there. In the morning they took me to Foreigners’ Department in Kumkapi. I stood trial and then deported”, Demirci said.

His son informed that after the trial, his father was sent to France on August 1. “Before the trial, one of my father’s friends hired a lawyer for him. He helped my father a lot. In the court my father was charged under the cover of “international terrorist”. The lawyer objected to this charge, which was later replaced with the charge of “dispute with the policeman”, and 5-year ban has been set on entering the country. My father will not be able to visit Turkey for a year”.