An MP has held talks with a Turkish diplomat in an attempt to get justice for two Leeds United fans who were murdered in the country 10 years ago.
Chris Loftus, 35, and Kevin Speight, 40, were killed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds’ Uefa Cup semi-final against Galatasaray on 5 April 2000.
Four men were convicted of involvement in the murders but were bailed pending an appeal which has still to be heard.
Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton* said his talk with the Turkish ambassador went well.
He said: “I was impressed at how articulate he was and how concerned he was that this particular case is a running sore in Anglo-Turkish relations.
“It’s something that he wants to see put to bed, not just for the sake of the relationship between our two countries but he was very concerned and expressed a lot of concern about the families of the victims.”
Wreaths laid
Mr Hamilton hopes Turkey’s aspiration to join the European Union could be used as leverage to get progress in the long-delayed case.
He said the recently-appointed ambassador said the Turkish government could not directly interfere in judicial proceedings.
“But I pointed out to him that Turkey is an aspiring member of the European Union and we do want Turkey to join the European Union, all political parties here in great Britain are in favour,” he said.
“But this issue has to be resolved because it’s symptomatic of a judicial system that is not working fairly and transparently.”
Mr Hamilton has campaigned for justice alongside the men’s families.
In April about 300 fans joined them to mark the 10th anniversary of the deaths by laying wreaths at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-11220754, 7 September 2010
* “New Jewish ministers and the Miliband rivalry” by Jessica Elgot, The Jewish Chronicle, May 14, 2010