Trial begins in Germany of alleged Turkish militants

Muesluem E. (3rdL), one of nine men and a woman of Turkish and Kurdish origin accused of being members of the leftist organization Turkish Communist Party/Marxist-Leninists (TKP/ML), arrives in a courtroom in Munich, Germany, June 17, 2016. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

MUNICH (Reuters) - A trial began in Munich on Friday of 10 people with Turkish and Kurdish backgrounds accused of belonging to a left-wing militant group in Turkey, charges that defence lawyers say are politically motivated.

The nine men and one woman face charges of organising propaganda events, raising funds and recruiting for the Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML), founded in 1972 and listed among a dozen active militant groups in Turkey.