30 April 2018•Update: 30 April 2018
ISTANBUL
A public prosecutor in Istanbul has sought five years in jail for imprisoned former co-chair of opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the party’s one of the lawmakers, according to a judicial source on Monday.
The prosecutor accused the party’s ex-leader Selahattin Demirtas, who is already in prison on different terror charges, and Ankara lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder of spreading terrorist propaganda through their speeches five years ago.
According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the HDP officials made their alleged speeches during the spring festival of Nevruz celebrations in Istanbul in March 2013.
Onder attended the hearing at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court but Demirtas was not present after he got a health report.
In November 2016, Selahattin Demirtas together with 12 HDP lawmakers were arrested on terror-related charges. Demirtas remains in custody pending trial.
The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted.
The government has accused the HDP of being linked to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.
More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.
Reporting by Melike Gallenkus; Writing by Nilay Kar
