In 2014 the HDP called on people to protest in support of Kobane, which was under attack by ISIS. The protests were opposed by the state security forces and elements sympathetic to ISIS, and 43 people died, almost all supporters of HDP. For calling people to protest, HDP members are now being accused of terrorism, and also of murder of those who died. These were the same charges made against Selahattin Demirtaș that the ECtHR judged not to be a convincing case. 

The hearing of this lawsuit has begun at 09:30 a.m. this morning in Sincan Prison Courthouse.

The Democratic Regions Party (DBP) released a statement regarding the Kobanê Case saying that it is the official manifestation of the political genocide against the Kurds.

“The AKP-MHP government relies on Kurdish political genocide to maintain its existence. The Kobanê Case held in Ankara today, is the official manifestation of the attacks against the Kurdish people”, the statement said.

The statement continued, “This case is not only against HDP and 108 people but is a political genocide case targeting the Kurdish people as a whole. Its aim is to revive fascism by eliminating the gains of the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom. It is our call to the central governments of Iraq and Syria: Stop your attacks as soon as possible against the peoples who proved that peaceful coexistence is possible in the Middle East and Mesopotamia.”

“The AKP-MHP government is trying to implement a total collapse plan through political operations, trustees, violations of rights and isolation practices in prisons, occupation and plunder in Rojava and military operations in South Kurdistan, expansion policies and hostility against the Kurdish people. We will respond to attacks with resistance.”