Former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in a case in which he was tried for various speeches. The court decision was announced at the Mersin 14th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Court process
Selahattin Demirtaş attended the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from Edirne F Type Closed Penal Institution, where he is being held for another crime. Demirtaş’s lawyers and the audience were also present in the courtroom.
Defense and Criticism
Demirtaş, who made his defense at the hearing, stated that the indictment was a copy-paste and argued that the opinion lacked legal basis. Demirtaş stated that he was trying for exercising his right to criticism and claimed that the Turkish judiciary was discriminatory. He also drew attention to the fact that he had been held in a 13 square meter cell for 8 years.
Penalties Given
The court sentenced Selahattin Demirtaş to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “publicly insulting the government of the Republic of Turkey, its judicial bodies, military or security organization” and 1 year and 3 months in prison for “inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting”.
