On Monday, the Munich Higher Regional Court commenced the main hearing against Tahir Köçer, a prominent figure in the Kurdish community in Germany. Köçer, a former co-chairman of the Kurdish umbrella organisation KON-MED and a member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), was arrested in Nuremberg in December 2022. Since his arrest, he has been detained in Munich.
The charges against Köçer include alleged “membership in a terrorist organisation abroad”, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). His role purportedly encompassed responsibilities as the area in-charge for Nuremberg and regional responsibility for Bavaria. The indictment includes activities such as family visits, dining in restaurants, organising and participating in informational and memorial events, Newroz celebrations, fundraising and protests against the incarceration of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, among other activities.
Following his arrest after a raid on Medya Volkshaus e.V. in Nuremberg and two private residences, Köçer’s trial has drawn significant attention. His lawyer, Michael Brenner, is expected to present a motion for dismissal on the upcoming trial day, scheduled for 18 January.
Köçer’s background includes fleeing Turkey in the mid-1990s due to imprisonment and torture. In Germany, he was granted asylum status and later, a residency permit. A father of five, he has been a vocal advocate for Kurdish rights and regularly engaged in public dialogue to highlight the situation of the Kurdish community in Germany.
The trial’s opening day saw a comprehensive reading of the charges in a courtroom filled with numerous attendees. Concurrently, a rally took place outside the courthouse, where KON-MED co-chair Kerem Gök spoke out against the German state’s actions towards politically active Kurds, and called for Köçer’s release.
