Bakırcıoğlu, an attorney of Dink family, noted that the two-day time given by the court for statements as to the accusations was not sufficient and he would not make a statement. The court has started hearing the defendants' statements of defense.

The forensic medical report regarding the death of teacher Metin Lokumcu has indicated that his exposure to pepper gas had an effect on his death. Attorney Meriç Eyüboğlu has noted that the report sets a precedent.

Despite objections by the ruling party, the MHP chair has reiterated that the party should be closed.

"For the first time, sanctions have been imposed on our country, a NATO member. What kind of alliance is this? This decision is a blatant attack on our country's sovereignty rights,” says Erdoğan in response to US sanctions over Turkey's purchase of S-400s.

HDP İstanbul MP Hüda Kaya has noted that the budget allocated to the Presidency of Religious Affairs is higher than that of 13 ministries, raising concerns that the people of other faiths as well as atheists have been obliged to pay taxes for this.

HDP Group Deputy Chairs Danış Beştaş and Oluç have released a statement explaining the reason why the party did not sign the joint Parliamentary declaration condemning the US sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of S-400s from Russia.

Dr. Samet Mengüç, the Co-Spokesperson for HDP’s Health and Social Policies Commission, has criticized the vaccine policies of the government, underlining that “Turkey needs a minimum of 120 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.”

Ahead of his first hearing on December 18, the First Section of the Constitutional Court has reviewed the individual application of arrested businessperson and rights defender Kavala and ruled that it shall be forwarded to the General Assembly.

Alaattin Çakıcı, who has a close relationship with government ally Bahçeli, threatened the CHP leader with death last month.

HDP has filed a criminal complaint against the ATV for replacing the leaves and stars in its logo with hand grenades and bullets. The party has also appealed to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) about the issue.

In the trial of public officials over the assasination of journalist Hrant Dink, the court board has given only two days to the parties to prepare their statements of defense as to the accusations. The hearing lasted for only 10 minutes.

İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has reversed the decision of non-prosecution and issued an indictment against main opposition CHP İstanbul Chair Kaftancığlu upon the objection of Presidential Communications Director Altun.

Submitting a Parliamentary inquiry about women’s unemployment in Turkey, HDP MP Serpil Kemalbay has said, “Women have been forced to withdraw from workforce and employment and return home during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Main opposition CHP MP Çakırözer visited Osman Kavala in prison ahead of the Constitutional Court’s review of his individual application today.

The holiday lockdown will last from 9 in the evening on December 31 to 5 in the morning on January 4, President and ruling AKP Chair Erdoğan has told reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the capital of Ankara.

Announcing his opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor has demanded prison sentence for 53 defendants and the acquittal of 12 defendants. While Ramazan Akyürek faces life sentence, Ali Fuat Yılmazer faces aggravated life sentence.

Addressing the lawmakers at the General Assembly of the Parliament, HDP Kocaeli MP Gergerlioğlu has said that he cannot get an answer to his Parliamentary questions regarding the violations of rights in Turkey’s prisons.

HDP has released a statement to mark the fifth year of curfews and operations in Cizre in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Şırnak. The party has raised concerns over the impunity that has ensued what happened in Cizre.

Beytullah Sakin, the 13-year-old son of a village head in Turkey’s eastern province of Elazığ, has lost his life after he was shot by a bullet fired from his father’s gun. It is alleged that the child accidentally killed himself.

Sırrı Sakık: “Closing a party is not the solution. Our 9 parties have been closed; they now say that the 10th should be closed as well. Even if there is no letter left in the alphabet, we will carry on our political struggle by buying letters and founding a new party.”