The first hearing of the “Kobanî trial” started at the Ankara 22nd Heavy Penal Court in Sincan Campus today (April 26).
There are 108 defendants from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP); while 28 people have been arrested pending trial, there are judicial control measures on six and warrants against 75 people.
Facing charges over the “Kobanî protests of October 6-8” in 2014, the politicians face a life sentence aggravated for 38 times each.
‘Here, the truth will put the lie on trial’
Before the hearing started, HDP Co-Chairs Mithat Sancar and Pervin Buldan made a statement in front of the Sincan Campus. During the press statement, the police made an announcement, demanding that the group disperse on the grounds of “social distance” amid pandemic.
Speaking about the police announcement, Sancar said, “They think that they can drown out the voice of the truth, our voice.” Noting that “they will keep struggling for peace and for democracy,” he said:
“The first hearing of the case of a political plot called Kobani trial will start soon. We wanted to come together and make a statement before the hearing, but – as you see – they have put up a wall between us.This is yet another indication that they are afraid of the truth.
“They think that they can drown out our voice, but they are wrong. They thought that they could intimidate us in this trial, but we will also show from now on that they are wrong.
“This is a case of a political plot. This is a quest for ending the search for peace, longing for freedom and hope for democracy in Turkey. We will keep on resisting for freedom, democracy and truth.
“This is also a case of political revenge. This is a case which is the product of the rage of the government which has not yet been able to come to terms with ISIS’s defeat in Kobanî in 2014.
“This is also a case of revenge which is a product of the defeats that the HDP has made this government suffer. We will shatter this together.”
Concluding his remarks, Mithat Sancar thanked everyone who has come both from Turkey and abroad to follow the case.
The hearing is followed by HDP’s Parliamentary Group, representatives of Progressive International and other international delegations, bar association chairs, political party and civil society representatives.
Lawyers left outside the hall
Shortly after this statement, the Lawyers for Freedom Association posted a message, sharing the below information from the court hall:
“They have positioned riot police officers at the attorneys’ seats. Their attorneys are not admitted into the hearing. Our clients do not respond to the identity check conducted by the court board on the grounds that the attorneys are not admitted into the hearing.”
Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) also said that the attorneys had been protesting the court board:
“We are in the courtroom with our members and colleagues from our several branches for the first hearing of the Kobanî trial. As the police are made to sit at the attorneys’ seats, several attorneys are waiting outside the hall. The door of the hall is shut in the face of attorneys.
“The defense attorneys are protesting the court board. After the presiding judge said that he would order the ones disturbing the order of the hearing out of the courtroom, the attorneys said that they would write down minutes and go outside if their colleagues were not admitted into the room. After the presiding judge said, ‘We can hold the trial without you, too’, the attorneys are leaving the courtroom by applauding in protest.”
Attending the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS), former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and the other arrested defendants also protested the court board by applauding.
Requests rejected
Following the requests raised by the defendants’ attorneys, the prosecutor’s office presented the opinion as to the accusations, demanding that “the requests be rejected and – in the current stage – the procedural provisions continue after the indictments are read out.”
The court board ruled that the requests should be rejected as they did not comply with the procedures. The board also unanimously concluded that the request for recusal to be raised by Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ and Sebahat Tuncel could be made in written form.
The court board moved on to read out the indictment, which sparked reactions in court. The attorneys protested by hitting the tables.
Demirtaş: Where is 128 billion dollars?
Not allowed to speak, Selahattin Demirtaş held a paper in his hand which read, “Where is 128 billion dollars?,” referring to the missing reserves of the Central Bank brought into the agenda by the opposition.
He also held another message that reads, “Write down my request for taking the floor in the minutes, give an interim ruling.” Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ and Sebahat Tuncel objected to the indictment being read out, saying, “You cannot proceed with this trial like this.”
Afterwards, the court board has ruled that Demirtaş, Yüksekdağ and Tuncel shall raise their requests for recusal in written form and that their requests shall be examined when they are delivered. The board has also rejected the attorneys’ request for recusal. The next hearing is on May 3.