ISTANBUL- In the final hearing of the case against 31 members of HDK, DBP, and DEM Party, 21 people were sentenced to 6 years and 3 months each and 3 people were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months each. 

 

The final hearing of the lawsuit filed against 38 members and executives of Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and Peoples' Democrat Party (HDP), including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and 78's Initiative Spokesperson Celalettin Can, was held. Some of the defendants and their lawyers were present at the final hearing of the case on the charges of "being an illegal organisation member" and "making propaganda for an illegal organisation" at Istanbul Courthouse 28th High Criminal Court in Çağlayan.

 

The prosecution repeated its final opinion that 35 people should be sentenced for "being an illegal organisation member" and "making propaganda for an illegal organisation" and 3 people should be acquitted. The defendants and their lawyers repeated their arguments in the previous hearings that the case was politically motivated and that the political parties and organisations they were active in were being criminalised, and demanded acquittal.

 

REQUEST FOR A STAY OF PROCEEDINGS

 

Meral Hanbayat, lawyer of DBP Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, reminded that her client is DEM Party Istanbul MP, has legislative immunity and asked for a stay of proceedings.

 

DECISION

 

The court decided to suspend the trial of DBP Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and sentenced 21 people including Celalettin Can, spokesperson of 78's Initiative and DEM Party Central Executive Board (MYK) member Elif Bulut to 6 years and 3 months each for "being an illegal organisation member". The court sentenced 3 people including DEM Party Istanbul Co-Chair Gonca Yangöz to 1 year and 3 months each for "making propaganda for an illegal organisation" and acquitted 13 people.