The first hearing of the case against Onur Gencer, the armed assailant who murdered Deniz Poyraz, a member of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), at the HDP’s Izmir branch office on 17 June, was held yesterday at Izmir Criminal Court No.6.
A large group of lawyers representing the family of the victim attended the hearing. Hundreds turned up to watch the hearing, mostly members of political parties or representatives of NGOs around the country, both for solidarity with the family and in order to follow the trial. Danish MPs Lars Aslan Rasmussen and Soren Sondergaard were among those who turned up to watch the trial.
Speaking to Mesopotamia Agency, Rasmussen said: “There were a lot of chaotic scenes in there. For example, the defendant in the Poyraz case was acting as if he was extremely comfortable. There were large numbers of police and gendarmes inside. While there were many people showing solidarity [with the victim’s family], there were also as many police and gendarmes.”
Sondergaard, in response to the court having adjourned the case by announcing an interim decision without taking statements from the lawyers, said the following:
“In Europe, if the time runs out, the trial ends or is adjourned until the next day. This is normal. However, in Europe, lawyers have the right to speak and speak as much as they want, they cannot be prevented from speaking.”
Rasmussen said they would like to come and watch the next hearing.
“There are about 10 parties in the Danish Parliament, and they all have different views. There are Turkish representatives the Council of Europe. We will discuss this issue at the Council and get it put onto the agenda.”
