HDP Former Co-Chair Yüksekdağ Given Judicial Fine for Insulting Erdoğan

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) imprisoned former Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ had her final hearing in the lawsuit filed against her for "insulting the President" yesterday (January 7).

Attending her hearing at the Van 7th Penal Court of First Instance via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS), Yüksekdağ has been sentenced to pay a judicial fine of 1,740 Turkish Lira (TRY).*

In her last statement of defense presented to court via the SEGBİS system, Yüksekdağ stated the following in brief:

'As a politician, I might say things some do not like'

"I am a politician and sometimes I might make harsh statements or might be saying things that some people do not like, because it is my job. I can also make harsh criticisms as a politician. It should not be considered a crime.

"The lawsuit filed against me on the allegation that I insulted the President is not a trial, but a way of doing politics developed by the government against us to further prolong its time in power.

"It is a blow to the people's will. We are here because we warded off this blow. Our imprisonment means the punishment of an idea and thought.

"A truth, an idea cannot be punished by being imprisoned for years. This method has been tried for many times in history, but it has never succeeded.

'There is a power greater than Erdoğan: The people'

"Erdoğan is the president, but he is also the leader of a party. This party leader takes a hostile attitude towards us. I mean, no matter what we politicians say, anything that we say can be presented as insults to president. With these lawsuits, they tell us 'to hush' and 'to keep our voice down'. But we have never stayed silent and we will not do so.

"Today, Tayyip Erdoğan is using his full power against the oppressed people of this country. Shouldn't we say that? Should peoples of Turkey turn into an army of fear? Are we supposed to let this happen?

"It will never happen. We will resist. We will resist against a tyrant. If we do not resist, they will win. We and our people are resisting and they will lose. There is a power greater than Erdoğan in this country and it is the people.

"We will never be defeated. We will resist against the ones who tyrannize us with courage and perseverance. Our people should know this very well: We will win very big and they will be called to account before history." (EKN/SD)

* Approx. 290 US Dollar or 260 Euro