The second hearing of the case against former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, based on speeches he made in 2016, was held on January 19 at the Diyarbakır 18th Criminal Court of First Instance. The hearing ended within minutes without any defense statements being heard. The court decided to evaluate the request to combine the case with files opened in Mersin and Ankara and postponed the trial until June 3 at 9:00 a.m. Demirtaş is facing up to 15 years in prison on charges of “insulting the state,” “inciting the public to hatred and hostility,” and similar allegations.
January 19, 2026
bianet.org