The 8th hearing of the case in which Van Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Abdullah Zeydan was retried on charges of "aiding an illegal organization" began at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.

Abdullah Zeydan did not attend the hearing. After lawyer Mahsuni Karaman withdrew from the case, Mehmet Emin Aktar joined the case as a lawyer. Aktar requested an extension.

The hearing continued with lawyer Mehmet Emin Aktar's defense. Aktar protested the court panel's decision to write a warrant to the Provincial Police Department to take "security" measures.

Lawyer Mehmet Emin Aktar said: "Without waiting for me to make a defense, you determined your decision with the letter you submitted yesterday. Making a defense is my and my client's right. This is a requirement of a fair trial. You violated this by not giving an extension."

Aktar said: "Your attitude today violates a fair trial and violated your impartiality. Therefore, I reject the court.” Aktar requested a recusal of the judge. The court rejected the request. Lawyer Aktar said: "If a reasonable period of time is not given, both the fair trial and the right to defense will be violated."

The court sentenced Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Abdullah Zeydan to 3 years and 9 months in prison.