The Turkish court has recently announced a jail sentence of 42 years for 20 Kurdish politicians including former presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas, for their role in the 2014 deadly riots. Which erupted, as the Islamic State group overran the Syrian town of Kobane.
These accusations revolve around four social media posts dated October 6, 2014, which were from X’s account of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), in addition to speeches made by these leaders.
Consequently, these indictments consider these tweets as evidence, suggesting that the accused politicians were directly responsible for the protests that occurred in 32 cities across Turkey from October 6 to 8, 2014, resulting in 37 deaths, although the circumstances surrounding their involvement remain unclear.
Subsequently, the Turkish court handed down lengthy prison sentences to several politicians, including Selahattin Demirtas (42 years), co-chair of the HDP; Figen Yuksekdag (30 years); and Gultan Kisanak (12 years).
Additionally, Ahmet Turk was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, the court has also acquitted 12 other politicians who were on trial.
Thus, confirming that the Turkish authorities have effectively instrumentalized the criminal justice system, using it to remove certain politicians as elected representatives by peddling baseless charges against them.
According to Hugh Williamson, director of Human Rights Watch of Europe and Central Asia wing, this conviction represents the latest tool employed by Turkish authorities to deprive Kurdish voters of their right to elect their chosen representatives, thereby undermining the democratic process and criminalizing lawful political speech.
Previously, former HDP parliamentarians, mayors, and even party officials faced trials on multiple charges over three years, ranging from charges like undermining the unity and integrity of the state to murder. Interestingly, this evidence typically consists of the party’s social media posts and political speeches.
Furthermore, in November 2016, leading HDP members of parliament and mayors were arrested and jailed on terrorism charges on separate occasions.
Even today, ongoing criminal cases filed in various courts against politicians charge them with crimes such as membership of a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist propaganda, which later merged with the “Kobane trial” case file.
