108 politicians including HDP former co-chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş and HDP Central Executive Board Members stand trial in the so-called ‘Kobane Case’. The first hearing will begin in Turkish capital Ankara tomorrow.
A lawsuit was filed against 108 politicians including HDP former co-chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş and HDP Central Executive Board Members by Ankara 2nd Heavy Criminal Court. On 2 October 2020. 17 HDP politicians had been arrested on the grounds of their role in the Kobane protests.
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 will begin on 26 April (tomorrow) at 09:30 a.m. in Sincan Prison Courthouse.
HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, Party Assembly Members and Central Executive Board Members, HDP Women- and Youth Assemblies’ Members will observe the hearing.
The trial will also be monitored by representatives of unions, bars, civil society organizations and opposition parties from Turkey along with the international delegation consisting of parliamentarians, lawyers and representatives of NGOs.
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