12/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Schulz demands fair trial for Leyla Zana. At the opening of the plenary session on Monday 11 June, the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz demanded a “fair and balanced” trial for the activist and 1995 Sakharov prize-winner, Leyla Zana, who has been fighting for Kurdish rights and who is now facing anti-terrorist charges. Schulz explained that the European Parliament will follow proceedings very closely. He pointed out that Turkey has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and called on Ankara to respect this convention. He emphasised that “the freedom of opinion and the press is even more important because Turkey is seeking to play an exemplary role to Arab Spring countries”. (CG/transl.fl)