21 Months in Prison for HDP MP Leyla Birlik

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak MP Leyla Birlik has been sentenced to 1 year and 9 months in prison for “insulting the President”.

Doğan News Agency reported that the court increased the penalty from 1 year and 6 months to 1 year and 9 months in the third hearing held at Şırnak Criminal Court of First Instance on the ground that “the act of insult was committed openly”.

The penalty wasn’t suspended.

Lawyers will object

Birlik didn’t attend the hearing. Birlik’s lawyers said that they will object to Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice.

Tried for “insulting President” due to a statement she made in 2015, Birlik was arrested on November 4, 2016 and released on January 4, 2017. (TP/TK)