Four people who were detained in the rural neighbourhood of Derto in Halfeti district of Urfa on May 18, 2019 and were subjected to torture after being detained, were imprisoned after the verdict of the Court of Cassation.

The case on the charges of ‘being members of an illegal organisation’ and ‘leading an illegal organisation’ at the 5th High Criminal Court in Urfa was concluded on June 25, 2021. The court sentenced Celal Yıldırım, Cindi Zencirkıran, Ömer Gül and Vakkas Kılıç to 3 years and 6 months each on the charge of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’ and ordered their release. Defence lawyers and the public prosecutor appealed the verdict.

The 4th Criminal Chamber of the Regional Court of Appeals in Antep, finding the sentences given by the local court to Celal Yıldırım, Cindi Zencirkıran, Ömer Gül and Vakkas Kılıç for ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’ appropriate, reversed the verdict against the defendants on the charge of ‘being members of an illegal organisation’ and sent the file back to the court.

The local court sentenced Yıldırım, Cindi, Ömer and Kılıç to 6 years and 3 months each on 25 October 2022 on the charge of ‘membership in an illegal organisation’. The verdict was unanimously upheld by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation on 4 July. The four people who were detained in a house raid in the Yalak neighbourhood of Bozova district were taken to the courthouse and remanded in custody after the verdict was read to their faces.