ANKARA - Speaking in the Kobanê Trial, lawyer Çiğdem Kozan said: ‘’There has been a solution process in this country and a law has been passed during the solution process. In the fourth article of the law enacted, it was regulated that those who take responsibility in the solution process will not take criminal responsibility.’’

 

The Kobanê Political Genocide Trial, in which 108 people, 24 of whom were imprisoned, including the former Co-Chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş and the former Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Sebahat Tuncel, are on trial. The 7th session of the 3rd hearing started at the Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court.

 

HDP MPs, HDP provincial and district organization representatives, as well as many viewers, lawyers and journalists attended the hearing held in the Sincan Prison Campus Hall.

 

Figen Yüksekdağ at SEGBİS

 

HDP former Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ, former Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Gültan Kışanak, who was replaced by a trustee, HDP former Central Executive Board (MYK) member Zeynep Ölbeci, HDP former MYK members Berfin Özgü Köse, Can Memiş and Cihan erdal, who were released from their prisons in previous sessions, were also connected to the hearing from Istanbul via Sound and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

 

Selahattin Demirtaş was excluded from hearing

 

HDP former MP Gülser Yıldırım, Aysel Tuğluk, and İmralı Delegation member Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Ahmet Türk, Gülfer Akkaya and Altan Tan, who were on trial without arrest, did not attend the hearing by making excuses. As HDP's former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş was preparing for his defense, Kars Municipality Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen, who was replaced by a trustee, did not attend because he was excluded from the hearing due to health problems.

 

DBP's former Co-chair Emine Ayna and Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activist Ayla Akat Ata will attend the hearing in the afternoon due to family visits in the prison where they are held.

 

16 politicians in the courtroom

 

Former Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Sebahat Tuncel, HDP former Spokesperson Günay Kubilay, HDP Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) member Ali Ürküt, HDP former MPs Emine Beyza Üstün, İbrahim Binici, HDP Foreign Relations Committee member Nazmi Gür , HDP new term MYK member Alp Altınörs, Meryem Adıbelli, HDP former term compter Zeki Çelik, Kurdish Pen member writer Nezir Çakan, HDP previous term MYK members Pervin Oduncu, Ayşe Yağcı, Bircan Yorulmaz, Bülent Parmaksız, İsmail Şengül, Dilek Yağ and Sibel Akdeniz was present in the courtroom.

The hearing, which started with identification, continued with the defense of Ayla's lawyers, who made a defense in yesterday's session.

 

‘There was a solution process in this country’

 

Ayla's lawyer Çiğdem Kozan requested that her client's parliamentary speeches be removed from the file. Noting that the parliamentary speeches fell within the scope of political freedom, Çiğdem said: ‘’There was a solution process in this country and a law was enacted during the solution process. In the fourth article of the law enacted, it was regulated that those who take responsibility in the solution process will not take criminal responsibility. It was presented as if there was no solution process in this country. The client was both a MP and a member of the İmralı Delegation at that time. She is someone who takes responsibility in the solution process.’’

 

‘A call for solidarity against ISIS brutality’

 

Stating that there is no call for violence in the tweet posted by the HDP, which is considered a crime in the indictment, Çiğdem said: ‘’It is a call for solidarity against the brutality of ISIS.’’ Reminding the decisions of the ECtHR, Çiğdem stated: ‘’The ECtHR has clearly revealed with the decision of the Grand Chamber that the opposition is intended to be silenced. These are within the scope of freedom of thought and expression.’’ Reminding that Ayla's speeches about women were also included in the indictment, Çiğdem said: ‘’There are cases where she was tried and acquitted for most of these speeches. We have added this acquittal to this file, but acquittals are also grounds for arrest in this trial.’’