HDP MP Tan Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for His Newroz Speech

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Altan Tan has been sentenced to 2 years in prison by the 4th Criminal Court of First Instance.

The court ruled that the sentenced be deferred in the hearing held yesterday (June 15).

Tan was being charged with “inciting people to hatred and hostility” due to the speech he made in Urfa Newroz on March 21, 2012.

Tan’s Newroz Speech

The speech of Tan subjected to the prosecution was:

“The Minister of Interior and Prime Minister said that we’ve shot Kurds, filled the dungeons with them, suppressed them. The crackdowns didn’t discourage us in the periods of İsmet Pasha, Mustafa Kemal, Mahmut Bozkurt; is it them to discourage us?

“You will not be able to discourage Kurds. Here are the squares, Kurdish people will have their rights like other peoples. This your last chance. You will come to your senses, there is no other way”. (TP/HK/TK)