Constitutional Court: Freedom of Expression of Sırrı Süreyya Önder Violated

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The Constitutional Court has announced its ruling on Sırrı Süreyya Önder, the former MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who has been sentenced to 3 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" due to his Newroz speech in 2013.

The Constitutional Court has concluded that the freedom of expression of Sırrı Süreyya Önder has been violated. Arzu Eylem Kayaoğlu, the lawyer of Önder, has stated that Önder will be released after this verdict.

What happened?

A lawsuit was filed against former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and former MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder due to their Newroz speeches in 2013.

Announcing its ruling on September 7, 2018, the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court ruled that Demirtaş shall be sentenced to 4 years, 8 months in prison and Sırrı Süreyya Önder tp 3 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".

The 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice, the court of appeal, upheld the verdicts of conviction of both politicians on December 4, 2018. Önder was imprisoned on December 6, 2018. (DB/SD)