FARC, PFLP 'not terrorists', Danish judges rule

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 05:09 GMT]
Seven Danes who sold T-shirts with the logos of Colombian and Palestinian militants have been acquitted of supporting terrorist groups, the BBC reported Thursday. They had pledged five Euros from each sale to the FARC in Colombia or the PFLP, both of which are classified as terrorist groups by the European Union. But Danish judges ruled that while the groups took part in murders and kidnappings, they were not guilty of terrorism. The company said it would seek the return of its confiscated funds so that it could send the money to a FARC radio station and Palestinian poster shop.

The T-shirt maker, 'Fighters and Lovers', had pledged five euros (£3.50) from each sale to the FARC in Colombia or the PFLP.

The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) are banned in the EU.

One juridical judge and two lay judges found the seven accused activists innocent of the Justice Ministry’s charge that they had materially supported “terror groups”. One of the lay judges was in disagreement regarding terror actions purported by FARC.

The total vote was 4-0 against the states attorney's terror charge against PFLP and 3-1 for FARC.

While the court agreed the militants’ actions fell under an article in Denmark's penal code on terrorism, they decided there was no proof that their aim was to destabilise or destroy the foundations of society.

The clothing company said it would now seek the return of its confiscated funds so that it could send the money to its two destinations, a FARC radio station and a graphics shop which produces posters in the Palestinian territories.

Their ruling is being seen as a test case for Denmark's anti-terrorist laws introduced in 2002, which make it illegal to finance groups that feature on the EU's list of terrorist organizations, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

It is unknown if the state will appeal the decision.

External Links:

Blogspot:

Fighters + Lovers