TJA member Zelal Bilgin sentenced to 8 years and 5 months in prison

The Turkish state continues its political and legal repression against Kurdish people and women.

Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad -TJA) member Zelal Bilgin had previously been sentenced to 8 years and 5 months in prison by a court in Amed (Diyarbakır), but the sentence was overturned by the Court of Cassation.

Zelal Bilgin's lawyer, Diyar Çetedir, attended the first hearing held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court following the reversal.

The prosecution demanded that Zelal Bilgin be sentenced on the charge of "membership in an illegal organisation".

While lawyer Çetedir demanded the acquittal of his client, the court rejected the request to hear the secret witness and finalised the case in the first hearing after the reversal. The court reduced the imprisonment sentence of 9 years by 7 months and sentenced Zelal Bilgin to 8 years and 5 months.