HDP’s (Peoples' Democratic Party) hostage co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Ankara MP on trial without remand Sırrı Süreyya Önder are on trial for “terrorist propaganda” in a case filed at the Istanbul High Criminal Court No.26, and the 5th hearing for the case was held in the court room within the Silivri Prison Campus. Demirtaş did not attend the hearing, while Önder was present.

Right after the hearing started, the Court Chair asked for an opinion from the prosecutor, which caused protests. The Court Chair ordered the lawyers to be removed from the hall, while soldiers surrounded the lawyers.

PROTESTS

Lawyers and MPs and the observation committee protested the ruling and left the court room.

The prosecutor announced the requested opinion and demanded up to 5 years in prison for Demirtaş and Önder for “terrorist propaganda”.

NEXT HEARING ON JUNE 8

The Court Panel ruled to have Demirtaş ready via video conferencing system SEGBİS in the next hearing to be held on June 8. The June 8 hearing will be held in the Istanbul Court House in Çağlayan.

Demirtaş and Önder are on trial for the speeches they gave in the Newroz celebrations in 2013.