The final hearing was held in the case against 96 people who were taken into custody in the scope of the so-called KCK case in Adana province, south of Turkey, in 2008.

The defendants are accused of “being members of and spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization” and include journalist Seyithan Akyüz and DTK (Democratic Society Congress) Co-chair and HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Leyla Güven.

The hearing at the 5th Heavy Penal Court of Adana was attended by some politicians on trial and their lawyers.

The court acquitted the defendants for “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization” and sentenced 27 of them, including journalist Akyüz and Leyla Güven, to 6 years and 3 months each for alleged “membership to a terrorist organization”.The court acquitted the other 69 defendants faced with the same charges.

Commenting on the court verdict after the hearing, lawyer Vedat Özkan said these cases dealt with “conspiracy” files prepared by members og the Gülen Movement.

Lawyer Yasemin Dora Şeker said that 60 people being sentenced to 375 years was against universal values and law.

The lawyers will appeal to a higher court to reverse the judgment.