Kobani Trial. No relief for Kurdish politicians

There were some debates about “normalization,” but unfortunately, it does not seem applicable to Kurdish politicians.

The outcome of the Kobani trial in Turkey resulted in convictions of former pro-Kurdish party officials, including Selahattin Demirtaş, who received more than 40 years in jail for instigating the 2014 Kobanî protests. Prosecutors had initially sought 38 “aggravated life” sentences without parole in relation to the protest deaths. The trial, which began in April 2021, led to convictions that were criticized for ignoring European Court rulings and sidelining the law, raising concerns about potential sanctions against Turkey and its expulsion from the Council of Europe[3][5].

Citations:
[1] https://medyanews.net/verdict-in-kobani-case-legal-massacre-and-reward-to-isis-say-kurdish-politicians/
[2] https://yetkinreport.com/en/2024/05/17/the-kobani-verdicts-dissecting-a-political-prial/
[3] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/turkey-convicts-former-pro-kurdish-130638700.html
[4] https://medyanews.net/kobani-case-verdicts-ignore-european-court-rulings-sidelines-law-say-legal-experts/
[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-convicts-former-pro-kurdish-party-officials-over-kobani-protests-2024-05-16/

The Kobani trial in Turkey was a significant legal prosecution following the 2014 Kobanî protests. The trial involved the prosecution of Kurdish politicians and supporters, including Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, Co-Chairs of the HDP, as well as other leading politicians of the HDP and the Democratic Regions Party. The protests, which started as pro-Kobanî demonstrations, turned violent, resulting in casualties and injuries. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan blamed the HDP for the violence, leading to arrests and legal actions against the party members. The trial involved a series of events, including arrests, detention, and calls for the closure of the HDP. The European Court of Human Rights also ruled on the case, highlighting violations of freedom of expression and pre-trial detention. The trial was a complex and politically charged process that reflected the tensions and conflicts surrounding the Kobanî protests in Turkey[1][2][3][4].

Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Koban%C3%AE_protests
[2] https://globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/cases/selahattin-demirtas-v-turkey-no-2/
[3] https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2021/02/22/grand-chamber-judgment-in-the-case-of-selahattin-demirtas-v-turkey-no-2/
[4] https://www.dw.com/en/kurdish-leader-ocalan-eyes-last-chance-for-historic-peace-deal/a-18330848
[5] https://yetkinreport.com/en/2023/11/02/the-crime-files-of-a-turkish-social-media-phenomenon-dilan-polat/

 

Today’s unjust sentences in the “Kobani trial” show two things. 1) The veracity of “Turkey’s democracy is resilient” claims depends on whether you look at the regime or the opposition. 2) The regime calculates it can get away with heavy, visible political punishment of Kurds.

— Lisel Hintz (@LiselHintz) May 16, 2024