Roj TV trial begins today in Copenhagen

The first hearing in a trial of a Kurdish-language television station will take place today in Copenhagen, with prosecutors charging it with promoting activities of a group linked to terrorism. After countless complaints and petitions from the Turkish government over a number of years, in August 2010 Denmark's public prosecution opened a court case against Roj TV charging it of helping to promote the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). While filing the case, Danish prosecutor said at the time that Roj TV was promoting activities of the PKK. Roj TV has a Danish broadcasting license but has no studios in Denmark. Roj TV executives, meanwhile, apparently due to fear of the outcome of the trial, have established a reserve channel in Sweden. The Danish court is expected to make its final decision on the Roj TV which has long been a cause of tension between Denmark and Turkey case on November 9.