Kaplan Trial Tests Turkey

Metin Kaplan, the "Caliph of Cologne," was brought to the freshly renovated Bayrampasa prison in Istanbul on Wednesday. He is to stand trial on high treason charges for planning a terror attack on the Turkish capital Ankara.

Turkey's Justice Minister assured the press that Kaplan would receive a fair trial. The trial is seen by many as a test of whether Turkey's updated court system -- once synonymous with torture tactics, human rights abuses and rigged verdicts -- now befits a country seeking entry into the European Union. As a result, Kaplan will most likely be handled with kid gloves for fear of a negative effect Turkey's EU candidacy.

Kaplan will be tried by one of the new special criminal courts established under reforms requested by the European Union. They replace the state security court system which had charged Kaplan in absentia.

'Great gesture'

The Turkish press had a laid-back, if proud, reaction to Kaplan's arrival.

"Special Delivery from Germany," was the tongue-in-cheek headline in the mainstream Hürriyet newspaper. For its part, conservative Aksam newspaper saw Kaplan's return as a vote of confidence, referring to the "great gesture from Germany to Turkey as it tries to enter the EU."

Kaplan's arrival in Turkey followed months of legal wrangling aimed at extraditing him from Germany in connection with a 1998 plot to crash an explosives-laden aircraft into the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara, where political and military leadership were gathered for national day ceremonies. Atatürk was the founder of the modern Turkish state.

A second allegation accused Kaplan of plotting another attack to seize a prominent mosque in Istanbul and then fight "to the death" with security forces. He faces charges of "trying to destroy the constitutional order by armed force," which could bring a life sentence if upheld.

Kaplan had sought to stay in Germany, arguing that he would face torture in Turkey.

Law is in charge

Following his arrival in Turkey on Wednesday, Kaplan spent several hours before a judge. In handcuffs and without his clerical garb, he was formally charged with high treason. He refused to stand up before the judge, claiming he was tired and felt unwell.

He has also so far refused to enter a plea; his lawyer has seven days to do so.

The Turkish government has said it will leave the Kaplan case entirely in the hands of the legal system. While the current government of Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan (photo) originates in a similar Islamic milieu as Kaplan, it has long distanced itself from radicals, Islam expert Rusen Cakir told German public broadcaster SWR.

He added that Kaplan now only has marginal support in Turkey.

"Even when Metin Kaplan's father Cemalettin was alive, his organization had adherents here, but they couldn't really find a following at home," Cakir said. "Since Metin took over leadership from his father, the group has become even more marginalized."

It remains to be seen when the treason trial will start; his next hearing is set for Dec. 20. If guilty, Kaplan would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

It remains to be seen whether the prosecution will rely on old confessions that are said have resulted from torture.