HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and former Istanbul deputy, and Imralı delegation spokesman Süreyya Önder have been found 'guilty' by an Istanbul Court of "making propaganda for an organisation". 

Demirtaş, who is held in Edirne prison, has been sentenced to 4 years and 8 months imprisonment, while Önder to 3 years and 6 months.

The hearing tok place in the courtroom opposite the Silivri Prison Campus. 

Demirtaş attended via Sound and Image Information System (SEGBİS) while Önder was present. 

Lawyers from the Swiss and Canadian Consulates and from the London Bar followed the hearing together with a number of lawyers from the Freedom of Jurists Platform (ÖHP). HDP deputies Dilşad Canbaz, Züleyha Gülüm, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Tuma Çelik and many people also attended the hearing. 

Demirtaş, who spoke first, stated that he was notified 2 days ago and that he had defended in Bakırköy 2nd Heavy Penal Court against the indictment. 

Demirtaş was allowed to defend himself after a vote by the judges. 

The former HDP co-chair said:

"There are two reasons why I joined via SEGBIS today’s hearing. The first reason is that I do not travel through the ring, I have some trouble because of the health problem. The second reason is that you left me with the discretion of participating in person or via SEGBIS in the notice you made. It is illegal to be judged via SEGBIS, but today is my choice.

Until today, you have not accepted a single appeal from me and my lawyers. - the former HDP co-chair said - If our requests had been heard, this trial would have ended already”. 

Demirtaş ended his speech by saying: “You have already judged me without even reading the file. You have tried me and Önder for two speeches. The speeches we made are in the file. The sentence in the indictment is wrong. I do not accept that wrong sentence as a crime”.