Former HDP MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder Released

* Photographs: Twitter

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) former MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder was released from prison today (October 4).

Önder has been released after the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court has abided by the Constitutional Court verdict of right violation and ruled that Önder shall be released earlier today.

Sırrı Süreyya Önder was welcomed by her daughter Ceren Önder at the gate of the Kandıra Prison in İzmit.

First statements after release

His first statements after his release are as follows:

"Friends, I would like to first thank everyone who has come here today. Our friends inside have sent their greetings as well.

"Normally, a person should be happy at times like these. A part of ours is always inside. (...) It is only when a step is taken toward a full-scale democratization and peace that we can feel joyful.

'It is valuable that the verdict was given unanimously'

"I find it very valuable that the Constitutional Court gave its verdict unanimously. I hope that it will set a precedent to other trials.

"We said our word after all, we have always done so. Nothing can stop us from saying our word. Because we said what we believed in.

"Whatever we said, we said it for peace. We will keep on saying it for peace and for democracy".

After the Constitutional Court announced its ruling on Sırrı Süreyya Önder yesterday (October 3) and concluded that his right to freedom of expression has been violated, it was expected that Önder would be released on the same day. However, Önder was not released yesterday.

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 to 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. (PT/SD)