PodcastAnkara court rules to keep Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ behind bars in 2014 Kobani protests case
An Ankara court on July 27 undertook a review of the case launched against former HDP co-chairs Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ over their alleged incitement of violence during the Kobani protests in 2014. The court ruled against the release of the two politicians on the grounds of “the investigation not having been completed" and "the risk of spoliation of evidence."
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An Ankara court on July 27 ruled for the continuation of imprisonment of former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ in one of the several cases launched against the renowned politicians, Mezopotamya news agency reported.
Lawyers take Demirtaş's case to top court following Turkey's refusal to implement ECHR rulingThe Ankara 8th Criminal Court of Peace undertook a review of the case and ruled against the release of the two politicians.
The court cited the following reasons for why this decision was taken: “the nature of the offence charged,” “the current evidence,” “the investigation not having been completed” and “the risk of spoliation of evidence.”
Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ were originally taken into custody for terror-related charges on Nov. 4, 2016. The pair has since been held in pretrial detention as dozens of court proceedings have been opened against them.
In 2019, a new case file was opened against the former HDP co-chairs, accusing them of inciting the Kobani protests of Oct. 6-8, 2014, which stemmed from Turkey’s ban on weapons transfers to People’s Protection Units (YPG) during the ISIS siege on northern Syrian town of Kobani.
Masses flooded the streets of major cities and the majority-Kurdish southeast during the protests, resulting in the death of over 30 people.
Ankara court rejects former HDP co-chair Demirtaş's appeal for release despite Constitutional Court's ruling