Prison Sentences for HDP's Kışanak, Tuncel Overturned

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The 18th Penal Chamber of the Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice has overturned the prison sentences given to Kışanak and Tuncel by the Malatya 5th Heavy Penal court.

Examining the case upon a request by the attorneys of the politicians, the court has overturned the verdicts on procedural grounds. Kışanak, the former mayor of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was sentenced to 14 years and Tuncel, a former MP of the party was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The politicians were given prison terms for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "membership of a terrorist organization."

The court has rejected the politicians' demand for release, ruling for the continuation of their arrest.  (RT/EKN/VK)