Former Co-Chair of the HDP, Selahattin Demirtaş, was sentenced to 1 year, 5 months, and 15 days in prison on January 6 in a case where he was tried for speeches he made in Mersin and Diyarbakır. The Mersin 14th Criminal Court of First Instance concluded that Demirtaş had committed the crime of “insulting Erdoğan” in a series of incidents. Demirtaş, who is being held at Edirne F Type Prison, had his request to attend the hearing denied on security grounds. The court rejected the lawyers’ requests for additional time and for the judge to be recused, and handed down the prison sentence. The European Court of Human Rights’ three rulings of violation and release orders regarding Demirtaş have still not been implemented.
January 6, 2026
sendika.org