The Turkish Islamic militant Metin Kaplan has been charged with attempting to overthrow Turkey’s secular state by armed force. Kaplan, surrounded by anti-terrorist police, appeared in court a day after he was extradited from Germany, where he was known as the Caliph of Cologne. He was remanded in custody in Istanbul until 20 December. Kaplan claimed asylum in Germany, arguing that he could face political persecution in Turkey. The Turkish authorities accuse him of plotting in 1998 to crash an aeroplane loaded with explosives into the mausoleum of the founder of the modern Turkish state in Ankara. Kaplan, who heads a group called the Caliphate State which wants to overthrow Turkey’s secular government, has denied the allegation. Full Story
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