The final judgment in the so-called KCK case in Van has been announced. In the final hearing of the case, 16 politicians who are standing trial since 2012, were given a total of 149 years prison sentence.

The politicians tried in KCK case since 2012 are the then mayor of Çelebibağı town, Veysel Keser, Van Municipality Advisor Sait Kantarcıoğlu, BDP Van former co-chair Yakup Ataş, BDP former executive Naci Erkol, BDP executive Naif Uğraş, BDP Van former accounting officer Naim Işık, BDP province co-chair Fevziye Şiran, BDP province general assembly president Semira Varlı, BDP party assembly member Hüseyin Dağ, BDP province executive İbrahim Alkan, Education Support House trainer Meral Güngör, MEYA-DER former executive İshak Arslan, BDP former executive İsmail Demir, Başkale BDP district chair Selahattin Bozkurt, Senar Elter and Adil Adıyaman.

8 of the Kurdish politicians had been released at the first hearing and the other 8 at the second hearing held one and a half year later.

At the final hearing of the case at Van 2nd High Criminal Court, İsmail Demir was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months, Naif Oğraş to 11 years and 3 months, M. Naim Işık to 11 years and 3 months, Sait Kantarcıoğlu to 12 years and 6 months, İpekyolu Municipality co-mayor Veysel Keser to 12 years and 6 months, Semira Varlı to 10 years, Fevziye Şiran to 11 years and 3 months, Hüseyin Dağ to 12 years and 6 months, Naci Erkol to 7 years and 6 months, Senar Elter to 7 years and 6 months, Adil Adıyaman to 7 years and 6 months, Meral Güngör to 11 years and 3 months, Selahattin Bozkurt to 6 years and 3 months, İbrahim Alkan to 7 years and 6 months, İsak Arslan to 7 years and 6 months, while Yakup Ataş was acquitted.

Lawyers reacting to the 149 years prison sentence given to Kurdish politicians on charges of “membership to a terrorist organization” will file an appeal to Supreme Court against the sentences imposed.