A Turkish court sentenced pro-Kurdish politicians to prison for their involvement in deadly riots in 2014 that were triggered by Kurds’ anger over the Turkish government’s perceived inaction against Islamic State militants besieging the Syrian border town of Kobani. The clashes resulted in 37 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The protests were organized by leaders of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) who believed Turkey was supporting IS militants. A total of 108 people were charged, including HDP’s former leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, accused of inciting violence. The trial was criticized as politically motivated and part of a government crackdown on the pro-Kurdish party.
Among the defendants, 18 were jailed, 18 were freed pending the verdict, and 72 remained at large. The court in Ankara convicted Demirtas of 47 charges, sentencing him to 42 years in prison, while Yuksekdag was sentenced to 30 years for various offenses. Twelve defendants were acquitted of all charges, and those still at large would be tried later. The politicians plan to appeal the verdicts. The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense, with lawyers protesting the verdicts. Pro-Kurdish movement’s current co-leader, Tuncer Bakirhan, criticized the verdicts as a “black stain” on the Turkish justice system.
Authorities anticipated protests against the sentences and imposed a four-day ban on demonstrations in predominantly Kurdish provinces. The government accused HDP of links to the PKK, considered a terror organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. The PKK has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. Government officials claimed that HDP leaders took instructions from the PKK to incite riots. The government has frequently targeted the pro-Kurdish political movement, stripping legislators of parliamentary seats and removing elected mayors. Several HDP lawmakers have been jailed on terror-related charges alongside Demirtas and Yuksekdag.
The party, now known as the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), is the third-largest grouping in Turkey’s parliament. The verdicts have been seen as deeply divisive, with critics labeling them as politically motivated. The judicial proceedings have stirred tension between Kurdish minority groups and the Turkish government. The HDP has faced ongoing pressure and suppression from the government, as accusations of terror links and accusations of inciting violence persist. The situation highlights the challenges facing the Kurdish community within Turkey and the broader political landscape in the country.
