Prof. Dr. Hamzaoğlu, Women’s Assembly Spokesperson Çelebi Released

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Verdict has been announced in the first hearing of trial of 11 politicians including Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson and Academics for Peace member Prof. Dr. Onur Hamzaoğlu and Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Deputy Chair and Socialist Women’s Assembly (SKM) Spokesperson Fadime Çelebi.

The prosecutor demanded continuation of arrest, Ankara 10th Heavy Penal Court ruled release of Hamzaoğlu and Çelebi.

The 11 politicians are being charged with “Inciting people to enmity and hostility” and “Propagandizing for a terrorist organization” due to a statement they made for the press.

A large number of people including Çelebi and Hamzaoğlu were detained during house raids launched against HDK constituents ahead of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) 3rd Ordinary Session on February 9. Hamzaoğlu and Çelebi were arrested on February 17, 2018.

The other figures tried in the case are as follows: Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) Co-Chair Ahmet Kaya, HDP former Co-Chair Serpil Kemalbay, HDK Co-Spokesperson Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Deputy Co-Chair Hacer Özdemir, Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP) Co-Spokesperson Kezban Konukçu Kok, Greens and Left Future Party Co-Chairs Naci Sönmez and Özlem Eylem Tuncaeli, SYKP Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, Revolutionary Party Chair and HDP İstanbul MP Musa Piroğlu. (BK/TK)