Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the HDP, has been sentenced to one year, five months and 15 days in prison over speeches he delivered in 2015–2016 despite a final and binding European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling calling for his release.
The ruling comes as Demirtaş and his supporters await Turkey’s implementation of the ECHR ruling.
The verdict was handed down by the Mersin 14th Criminal Court of First Instance, which found Demirtaş guilty of insulting the president in remarks made in Mersin and Diyarbakır.
Demirtaş, held at Edirne Prison, did not attend the hearing. His request to appear was denied on security grounds. His lawyers stated that they were unable to prepare an adequate defence and asked for additional time but the presiding judge rejected the request, stating that sufficient time had already been granted.
The lawyers then filed a motion for recusation on the grounds that the right to a fair trial had been violated. The court rejected this motion as well.
The ruling comes after the ECHR finalized a violation judgment in Demirtaş’ case in 2025, stating that his detention breached the right to liberty and security and calling for his release. Ankara’s request for referral to the court’s Grand Chamber was rejected in November, making the decision final.
DEM PARTY REACTS
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan said on social media that the ruling was a major obstacle to building peace.
“This coup-minded mindset must be stopped immediately. Demirtaş and all political prisoners must be released immediately. The path to peace is paved with freedom and justice, not with coup-minded judicial decisions,” he said.
DEM Party parliamentary group deputy chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said the verdict once again highlighted concerns over fair trials and the non-implementation of binding international rulings.
