Ocalan trial unfair, court says

The verdict criticized the initial Ankara State Security Council hearing for including a military judge during some of the proceedings and for restricting Ocalan’s access to his lawyers.
Both sides have three months to lodge an appeal. If upheld by the European Court’s Grand Chamber, Turkey would be under pressure to try Ocalan again.
The court was set up in 1959 to enforce the convention on human rights, and its verdicts are binding on all 44 members of the Council of Europe. Turkey is a member of the council.
However, it is up to governments of member nations to ensure compliance with court rulings, a process that can take several years.
Ocalan, the only inmate on the prison island of Imrali, failed in some of his 11 other complaints, including the allegation of inhumane treatment and illegal detention.
Turkey blames Ocalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, for heading a 15-year insurgency against Turkey which left more than 30,000 dead.
Turkish commandos arrested him in Kenya in 1999, after which the rebels declared a cease-fire.
Ocalan was sentenced to death at his trial in Turkey that year. The sentence was reduced to life in prison after Turkey abandoned the death penalty last year.

source:cnn.com