HDP Şişli Co-Chair Mutlu Öztürk, 8 HDP Members Released

* Photo: Türkan Güneri / Twitter

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Taken into custody and arrested while attending an event marking the seventh foundation anniversary of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Beşiktaş, İstanbul on October 13, 2019, HDP Şişli District Co-Chair Mutlu Öztürk and eight others have been released in the first hearing.

Speaking in the hearing at the İstanbul 29th Heavy Penal Court, Ramazan Demir, the attorney of the defendants, said that the charges brought against his clients did not have a definition in the law.

Reminding the court that his clients were arrested because they attended the HDP's establishment ceremony, Demir requested that the court give a verdict of acquittal without hearing the statements of defendants.

'Don't get offended by slogans, but by verdicts'

While the defendants made their defenses in Kurdish, Mutlu Öztürk reminded that today was the International Mother Language Day; however, he would make his defense in Turkish because he does not know Kurdish even though he is a Kurd. Indicating that he can speak English, French and German, but not his own mother language, Öztürk stated the following in brief:

"We established this party so that the ones holding state authority would not exert pressure. While even a two-year-old party could celebrate its establishment anniversary, we were forbidden to do so.

"Rather than being offended by the 'murderer state' slogan, get offended by court verdicts. If the state is called 'murderer state', the state itself should first eliminate this perception. The state should abide by the laws."

Concluding his remarks, Öztürk requested his acquittal.

'Will I ask for permission to attend my party's event?'

Ali Edebali, one of the defendants, said that he was a member of the HDP and wanted to attend the ceremony marking the seventh establishment anniversary of his party: "If it is a crime to join this celebration, then millions of people commit the same crime." Edebali requested his acquittal.

Arrested pending trial, defendant Mehmet Emin Elma also requested his acquittal in following words: "I am treated as if I had attended the event of an illegal organization. Maybe the prosecutor does not know that, but this party has MPs, municipalities, it receives the votes of millions in elections. As a person who has Constitutional rights, will I ask for permission to attend the event of a party that I am a member of?"

Prosecutor requested release

Announcing his opinion as to the accusations following the statements of defendants and attornies, the prosecutor demanded the release of defendants on probation. Giving its interim ruling, the court has ruled for the release of all defendants arrested pending trial.

The next hearing will be held on July 7, 2020.

What happened?

Detained in the ceremony attempted to be held in Beşiktaş, İstanbul to mark the seventh establishment anniversary of the party, HDP Şişli District Co-Chair Mutlu Öztürk and eight HDP members were arrested by the court on charges of "organizing, leading and attending unlawful meetings and demonstrations" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

The court alleged that the group "insulted the State of the Republic of Turkey" by chanting the slogan "No to war, peace right now" despite the warnings of the police that the statement of the press was not permitted.

About Mutlu Öztürk

One of the founders of Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). He took office in the administration of the congress and the party as well as in their educational and cultural organs. He was the Şişli District Co-Chair of the HDP for over a year.

After Galatasaray High School, he studied history in Boğaziçi University. He worked as a history teacher at Terakki Foundation Schools, Snt. Benoit, Galatasaray and Notre Dame de Sion High Schools for over twenty years.

He is also a coordinator of the first phase of the "Human Rights in School Books" project, the author of its second phase, one of the members of its advisory board and was a member of the Toplumsal Tarih (Social History) periodical's editorial board. (HA/SD)

* Source: Mezopotamya Agency