MESOP : WAS ALAN KURDI THE BOAT DRIVER / HUMAN SMUGGLER ?

THE INDEPENDENT UK 12 Feb 2016 – On Thursday, the father of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler whose lifeless body washed up on a beach came to emblemise the crisis, was accused in court of having driven the fated boat.

Muwafaka Alabash and Asem Alfrhad, suspected people smugglers, went on trial in Bodrum, Turkey, accused of causing the boy’s death. Abdullah Kurdi had been “driving the boat” at the time, Emin Haydar, a Syrian survivor of the sinking, told the court. “The real criminal here, the organiser, is Abdullah Kurdi, who became a hero on television but did not even testify,” said Mr Alfrhad.

Mr Alabash said he had been told before coming to Bodrum to “‘find Abdullah Kurdi, he does the migrant smuggling’. I found him in Bodrum. Everyone knew him. His collected money from his people.” Mr Kurdi and his family denied the claims, made at the time. The two accused men, who deny the allegations, face 35 years in jail if convicted. The case continues. http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/content/turkey-threatens-send-refugees-europe?utm_source=World+Affairs+Newsletter&utm_campaign=e69a8c657a-February_11_2016_WNN2_11_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f83b38c5c7-e69a8c657a-294577397