Turkish court accepts indictment against HDP co-chair

VAN – Anadolu Agency

DHA photo

A legal indictment calling for a co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to serve five years in prison was accepted by a court in the eastern province of Van on Dec. 15.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Van charged HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ with “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and acting against Turkish electoral law.        

The charges stem from an October 2015 incident in which Yüksekdağ reportedly referred to slain outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants as “martyrs” during an election campaign speech.    
   
According to the indictment, Yüksekdağ should receive a five-year jail term if convicted.    
    
She is already in custody on terror-related charges along with a dozen other HDP lawmakers, including fellow party co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.        

Turkey’s government has accused the HDP, which focuses on the Kurdish issue, of being linked to the PKK.