Court Sentences Mayor of "Terrorist Propaganda"

A Diyarbakır court condemns Sur district mayor Abdullah Demirbaş to 2 years and 6 years in prison, on grounds that he referred to Kurdish rebel group PKK's leader Abdullah Öcalan as "Mr. Öcalan" during an interview at Roj TV.

Demişbaş is accused of "terrorist propaganda" as defined on Article 7/2 of the Counter Terrorism Law. The ruling bereaves Demişbaş from serving as a public servant.

Previously, Demirbaş was removed from his post as mayor by a Ministry of Interior decision because he provided multilingual public services. Diyarbakır's population is heavily Kurdish and some struggle to benefit from public services because they can't speak Turkish. Following his removal, Demirbaş was once again elected as mayo on local elections held in March 2009.

Association for Solidarity with the Oppressed and for Human Rights (MAZLUMDER) protested the decision, criticizing a series of similar rulings against mayors who are members of the Democratic Society Party (DTP). Among them were Diyarbakır metropolitan mayor Osman Baydemir and Batman mayor Nejdet Atalay.

The association claimed all three mayors were punished for speeches that would be regarded within the freedom of expression.

During Demirbaş's trial, the court withheld from lowering the punishment and from deferring it.

According to Dicle News Agency (DİHA), during the interview at Roj TV Demirbaş said "I also say Mr. Öcalan and denounce myself to the authorities. Attacks on the Kurdish language, identity and culture rise and Mr. Öcalan's ideas are important to Kurds. His health isn't good. Especially Mr. Öcalan is important to Kurds. They don't recognize his importance. Today, around 30 thousand people sent letters to authorities. This is a civic initiative. Roj TV is the voice of Kurdish people and the Middle East."(EÖ/AGÜ)