HDP MP Kürkçü to Stand Trial Today

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Trial of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İzmir MP Ertuğrul Kürkçü will start today (May 24). Kürkçü has been sued due to two of his speeches he delivered when he was Mersin MP.

The hearing will be held at Ankara 16th Heavy Penal Court at 3:30 p.m. via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).

Facing up to 20 years in prison, Kürkçü is charged with “being a member of an illegal organization” and “propagandizing for an illegal organization”.

Combined cases

A summary of proceedings was prepared for Kürkçü due to his speech where he said “We want that sides return to peace table, this war no longer claim the lives of young people in Turkey, negotiations begin to put an end to war and pave the way for peace”, calling for lifting of Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan, as he was Mersin MP. Also his speech he made in support of the public meeting which would be held jointly by the BDP and DTK on July 14, 2012 was included in the proceeding.

After the lifting of parliamentary immunity, Kürkçü was charged with “being a member of an armed terrorist organization” and “propagandizing for an illegal organization” in the indictment prepared by Mersin Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Murat Şadan Baş in 2017. (ÇT/TK)