German groups reject 'spy' charges

Eleven of the 15 accused attended the opening hearing

Six German foundations accused of espionage in Turkey have denied the charges on the first day of their trial in Ankara.

The state security court where the organisations' representatives are being tried has refused to drop charges against them, saying it was not possible to withdraw an indictment under Turkish law.

Members of the organisations - six Turks and nine Germans - are charged with forming a secret alliance to undermine the unity and political order of Turkey.

Five of the groups are based in Istanbul or the Turkish capital, Ankara, while the sixth is based in Germany.

Turkey has been criticised for its treatment of human rights

The prosecutor said the foundations acted against the country's national interests and forged close ties with ethnic and religious groups with the aim of breaking up Turkey, actions he called "legal espionage".

The defence lawyers, who numbered about 100, said the charges were in violation of democracy, human rights and constitution, and not backed by any evidence.

The accused, who include representatives of the Konrad Adenauer, Heinrich Boell, Friedrich Ebert and Friedrich Naumann foundations, and the Orient Institute, as well the former head of the Istanbul bar association, face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The trial is reported to have been adjourned until January.

The case was brought by Nuh Mete Yuksel, until recently the leading prosecutor of the state security court and who has in the past prosecuted prominent Kurdish and Islamic politicians.

Strained relations

This case is pretty much without precedent in Turkey, and comes at a delicate time, says the BBC's Istanbul correspondent Jonny Dymond.

A week ago an academic at Ankara University, whose work included allegations against the foundations, was killed by an unknown gunman outside his home.

The killing provoked widespread fears that political assassinations had returned to Turkey after an absence of several years, and the prosecutions have put a strain on relations between Turkey and Germany.

Turkey's attitude towards foreign foundations and organisations has been criticised by human rights campaigners.

The law has only recently been changed to allow foundations such as the ones on trial to own property.

As Turkey begins its two year run-up to a review of its human rights status by the EU, the conduct and the outcome of this trial will be closely watched, our correspondent says.