Court of Cassation upholds former Van co-mayor's prison sentence for 'terrorism'

Photo: DİHA/File

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The Court of Cassation has upheld the prison sentence of the former co-mayor of Van, a predominantly Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey.

Arrested in November 2016, Bekir Kaya was sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in prison for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization," "making threats in the name of crime organizations" and "knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organization."

The top appeals court concluded that the procedural actions in the trial of Kaya was in accordance with laws, the evidence was obtained lawfully, his actions were described correctly and his sentence was in accordance with the type of crime defined in the relevant law.

What happened?

A lawsuit was filed against Co-Mayor Bekir Kaya, five municipal employees and two executives of the MEYA-DER association for "participating in illegal demonstrations and not dispersing despite warnings," "being a member of an armed terrorist organization," "making threats in the name of crime organizations" and "knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organization."

Mayor Kaya was replaced with a government-appointed trustee.

The Van 2nd Heavy Penal Court handed prison sentences of between 2 years and 1 month and 8 years and 3 months to six defendants, while three defendants were acquitted.

Kaya's file included the allegations that the municipality had constructed a bridge in Çatak district for members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and statements from witnesses and anonymous witnesses, which included the claim that the mayor had been sending money to the Qandil Mountains, where the PKK is based.

After the Erzurum Regional Court upheld the verdict, the case was sent to the Court of Cassation.

In his defense statement, Kaya had said, "I don't expect anything from the court. It's not important whether I'm punished or not. I know my grievance will turn into a gain for the public.

"This period of tyranny and dictatorship will end for sure and we will definitely prevail. I may be aggrieved as an individual. But everyone must be sure that we will win big socially." (RT/VK)