Up to 5 Years in Prison Demanded for HDP Co-Chair Demirtaş and Ankara MP Önder

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A bill of indictment has been drawn up demanding up to five years in prison for Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and its Ankara MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder on charges of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”.  

The summary of proceedings drawn up against Demirtaş and Önder on charges of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” with regards to their speeches at a rally in Zeytinburnu on March 17, 2013 has been submitted to the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

According to information from the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the bill of indictment has been prepared by Bakırköy Vice Chief Public Prosecutor Kadir Yılmaz.

The indictment also reported that the suspects have neither shown up to give testimony despite the invitation to submit evidence and submit defenses  for their actions nor has the prosecution received any written plea.

The bill of indictment submitted to Bakırköy 2nd High Criminal Court is still being examined and up to 5 years of prison is being demanded for Demirtaş and Önder.

Demirtaş had announced that they would not give testimony

93 files about HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş have been submitted to Ankara Chief Prosecution demanding two terms of lifetime in prison and 486 years in prison in total after the regulation on the lifting of MP parliamentary immunities has entered into force.

Demirtaş had already stated that they would not accept the invitation by the prosecution and that they could only be taken to give testimony by police force. (EKN/DG)