The arrest warrant of the HDP and DBP politicians arrested on the basis of the so-called "Kobanê investigation" in early October will not be lifted for the time being. The 3rd Criminal Division of the Ankara Courthouse on Monday ordered the continuation of the pre-trial detention of twenty of those affected. The copy-paste decision was justified by the argument that the grounds for suspicion against the defendants had not been eliminated and no facts in their favor had been presented, while in addition, there would be the possibility of evidence disappearing. In seven other cases, the detention review has not yet taken place.

The non-public hearing of Ayhan Bilgen, Emine Ayna, Ayla Akat Ata, Beyza Üstün, Ibrahim Binici, Günay Kubilay, Alp Altınörs, Nazmi Gür, Ali Ürküt, Zeki Çelik, Bülent Barmaksız, Can Memiş, Cihan Erdal, Ismail Şengül, Mesut Bağcık, Bircan Yorulmaz, Dilek Yağlı, Pervin Oduncu, Berfin Özgü Köse and Ayşe Yağcı was held on Monday.

HDP parliamentary group deputy co-chair Meral Danış Beştaş pointed to another judicial scandal in this context, as the hearings were held at Sincan Prison via a video-conferencing system without the presence of the lawyers. "Our friends were brought forward late at night and had to wait out the entire night in the waiting room. They were not questioned until the next morning. Their defense lawyers have not been informed about the appointment," said Danış Beştaş.

Legal counsel announces appeal

The courts in Ankara have not yet decided whether to open the main trial, which dates back to the 2014 Kobanê protests, because the indictment has not yet been fully prepared. The legal counsel for the imprisoned politicians has already announced an appeal against the continued detention of their clients. Defense lawyers also want to take action against the continued detention of former HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtaş, who will not be released from prison despite a ruling to the contrary by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).