HDP’s Imprisoned Co-Chair Demirtaş not Released

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First hearing of trial of imprisoned Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş was held at Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court yesterday (December 7).

The court ruled continuation of Demirtaş’s arrest. The next hearing is on February 14.

Observation committee wasn’t allowed inside the courtroom

A large number of foreign committees came in front of Sincan Prison Campus to observe the hearing. The trial of Demirtaş, whom 1,250 lawyers wanted to represent, was held in a room with capacity of 20 people.

The committees of United Kingdom House of Lords, Laborer Party in England, Left Party in France, French Communist Party, Italian Progressives and Democrats Movement, Swedish Social Democratic Party, Norwegian Red Party, Greek SRIZA Party, Human Rights activist and lawyers from England, German Social Democratic Party, European Parliament Left Group, Britannia General Union and Danish Liberal Party.

However, the observers and MPs weren’t allowed inside the courtroom for security purposes.

Lawyer: “It is a political grudge and hostility case”

Making evaluations concerning the trial, one of Demirtaş’s lawyers Aydın Erdoğan described the trial as “political grudge and hostility case”. “It is true that Demirtaş is a manager of an organization, however, this organization is the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party). Demirtaş is the co-chair of HDP’s all councils and assembly group”.

Mentioning the June 7 general election result, Erdoğan said, “The AKP (Justice and Development Party) suffered its first defeat by the HDP. The AKP is now trying to oppress the HDP by means of jurisdiction”.

"I made all those statements in the parliament"

Demirtaş was arrested as part of the investigation carried out by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on November 4, 2016.

Stating that he made all those statements in the parliament, Demirtaş had demanded his release in line with the Constitution and rules of the European Court of Human Rights.

On February 21, 2017, HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş was sentenced to 5 months in prison on charge of "Insulting Turkish nation, Republic of Turkey and its institutions and bodies".(PT/TK)