Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) former Treasurer Zeki Çelik, HDP former deputies İbrahim Binici and Emine Beyza Üstün, and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) ‘s former Co-Chair Emine Ayna were released at the 3rd hearing of the Kobanê Trial on condition of judicial control.
The court also imposed an international travel ban on the politicians who were released from Sincan Prison during the night.
108 current and former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) members including former co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ – are on trial in relation to the so called Kobane trial, which accuses all 108 people of all the deaths that occurred during the October 6-8 2014 protests over the ISIS siege of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane.
Üstün: Jin Jiyan Azadi
HDP deputies Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, Mahmut Toğrul, plus their relatives and lawyers welcomed the politicians in front of the prison.
Beyza Üstün chanted the slogan “Jin Jiyan Azadi”(Women, life and freedom) after she was released from prison. Üstün said, “It is very nice to meet here. It would be great if we could all come here. I wish that there weren’t these walls surrounding us.” She continued: “There are many greetings from my friends who are still inside and will fight there for a while. We felt empowered with your solidarity every time we came to the hearing. I would like to thank all our friends, our friends who fought for justice, on behalf of all my friends who are on trial. We will leave this place as soon as possible with all our friends,” she said.
‘This case is a case of conspiracy’
Speaking afterward, Emine Ayna said, “I wish for days when alternative politics will not be a crime.”
Zeki Çelik, who was also released from prison: “We thank everyone for their solidarity. We are released but we are still upset since our friends are still behind bars.”
Politician İbrahim Binici, on the other hand, said, “This is a struggle. It goes on. This case is a case of conspiracy. I believe our friends will also come out. We will continue the struggle.”
The court postponed the next hearing to September 20. The number of politicians imprisoned in the case was reduced to 20.