KURDISH political leaders today celebrated an “historic” verdict after a Belgian court ruled that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is not a terrorist organisation.
The decision came after nearly 10 years of legal wrangling over a bid to charge 37 Kurdish politicians with terror offences based on their alleged support for the group, which is proscribed by Turkey and the European Union.
Investigations started in 2006 against the politicians, including Brussels-based Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) officials Zubeyir Aydar, Remzi Kartal and Adem Uzun.
CLAUDIA WEBBE looks at how Britain’s Nato ally has upped the stakes in its effort to silence domestic dissenting voices
A judge in a German court ruled that the ban activity imposed on renowned Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah was unlawful, reports LEON WYSTRYCHOWSKI


