CHP MP Berberoğlu Released from Prison due to Covid-19 Measures

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Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Enis Berberoğlu has been released from prison after being dismissed as a lawmaker and sent behind bars along with Leyla Güven and Musa Farisoğulları from the Peoples' Democratic Party.

He was reportedly sent home until July 31, as part of coronavirus measures.

His release "does not change the harsh reality that the people's will was usurped," Canan Kaftancıoğlu, the CHP's İstanbul chair, said on Twitter.

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan also reacted to the release, saying, "Of course, we are pleased that Enis Berberoğlu is released but doesn't corona infect other politicians in prison?"

There are dozens of HDP politicians in prisons, including MPs, mayors and the party's former co-chairs, Selehattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.

What happened?

CHP İstanbul MP Enis Berberoğlu and HDP Hakkari and Diyarbakır MPs Leyla Güven and Musa Farisoğulları were stripped of their MP status on June 4 on the ground that there were finalized court rulings against them.

Put on trial with Can Dündar, the former Editor-in-Chief of daily Cumhuriyet, for giving him the footage of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) trucks allegedly carrying weapons to Syria, Enis Berberoğlu has been sentenced to 5 years, 10 months for "disclosing information that needs to be kept confidential for the security of the state or domestic or international interests for purposes of political and military espionage."

While Diyarbakır 2nd Heavy Penal Court has sentenced Musa Farisoğulları to 9 years in prison for "membership of an armed terrorist organization", Leyla Güven has also been sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison on the same charge and by the same court.

The prison sentences of Berberoğlu, Farisoğulları and Güven have been upheld by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. (EKN/VK)