HDP MP receives prison sentence over a speech at funeral

HDP Ağrı MP Dirayet Taşdemir has been given 1 year and 8 months prison sentence due to a speech she gave at a funeral.

Verdict has been issued in the hearing of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Ağrı deputies Dirayet Taşdemir and Berdan Öztürk who stand trial due to speeches they held at the funeral of KJA (Free Women’s Congress) activist Berjin Demirkaya who was murdered by state forces during the self-rule resistance in Şırnak’s Cizre district. The deputies face the accusation of “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organisation”.

Lawyers of the two HDP deputies attended the hearing at Erzurum 2nd Heavy Penal Court.

The panel of judges sentenced MP Taşdemir to two years in prison and reduced the sentence to 1 year and 8 months with good conduct abatement, while Berdan Öztürk acquitted.