The man, who is in his 35s, was sentenced in 2014 in Turkey to four years and seven months in prison for transporting a bag containing 1.8 kilograms of cannabis. After serving just under six months of his sentence, he was released on parole, left Turkey legally and later moved to Sweden and received a work permit.
Following a request from the Prosecutor General's Office in Turkey, the man was arrested last year in Sweden. Now the Supreme Court has approved that the man should be extradited to Turkey to serve the rest of the sentence, which Aftonbladet was the first to report.
The decision was hammered by the Supreme Court on May 30. On June 12, Sweden will have a new meeting with Turkey on the NATO process.
"For the Swedish government, it is very timely," Turkey expert Paul Levin, an expert witness during the court hearing, told Aftonbladet.
Specifies political reasons for extradition
According to the man, the extradition is due to the fact that he has been politically active in the pro-Kurdish party HDP and shown support for the terrorist organization PKK. Among other things, he is said to have participated in several demonstrations that propagated Kurdish autonomy. The man has argued that extradition would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.
According to the Prosecutor General, however, there are no obstacles to extradition, nor would it contravene the European Convention on Human Rights. Neither does the Supreme Court.
The court refers, among other things, to Turkey's denial when asked by the Swedish Prosecutor General if there is any ongoing investigation or prosecution of the man relating to the crimes of "propagating a terrorist organization" or "insulting the Turkish president".
It will now be the government that will finally decide whether the man should be extradited.