* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)
Click to read the article in Turkish
Removed from office and replaced by a trustee by the Ministry of Interior last year, Batman Co-Mayor Mehmet Demir had his first hearing at the Batman 2nd Heavy Penal Court today (January 7).
Arrested pending trial, dismissed Co-Mayor Demir is charged with "membership in a terrorist organization."
Today's hearing started under high security. Journalists, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Batman Provincial Organization, municipal council members and NGO representatives were not admitted to the courtroom.
Demir's family, attorneys, HDP Batman MPs Feleknas Uca, Necdet İpekyüz, Rüştü Tiryaki, Batman Co-Mayor Songül Korkmaz attended the hearing.
Three interpreters changed
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Demir attended today's hearing from Diyarbakır Type D Prison via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). While Demir was making his defense in Kurdish, another interpreter was invited to the courtroom as the first interpreter said, "He is speaking in academic Kurdish, I cannot understand it."
While two other interpreters were brought to court to interpret Demir's defense from Kurdish into Turkish, they also could not interpret his speech for the same reason. Demir protested and did not make his defense.
Next hearing on January 20
The attorneys of Demir presented their statements of defense after him. They rejected the offenses charged against Demir and requested his release. Pronouncing his opinion after the attorneys' statements, the prosecutor demanded the continuation of his arrest.
The court has ruled that Mehmet Demir shall remain behind bars. The next hearing will be held on January 20.
What happened?
Detained on July 21, 2020, Mehmet Demir was arrested a day later.
Mehmet Demir was previously detained and released with Batman Co-Mayor Songül Korkmaz, Batman Vice Co-Mayors Şehriban Aydın and Salih Çetinkaya, Batman Municipal Council Co-Spokespersons Şükran Çelebi and Recep Yargı, Silvan Co-Mayor Naşide Toprak, Ergani Co-Mayor Ahmet Kaya, Eğil Co-Mayor Mustafa Akkul and Yenişehir Co-Mayor Belgin Diken.
On the same day when they were taken into custody, the Ministry of Interior removed them from office, appointing trustees to the Municipalities of Batman, Ergani, Eğil, Lice, Silvan, Güroymak, Halfeli and Gökçebağ. (RT/SD)
