The ninth hearing in the Kobane trials against 108 people including former co-chairs and executive committee members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was set to be held on the actual premises of Sincan Prison in Turkey today.
In a statement outside the prison, HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar said: “These hearings that have been ongoing since April have passed into history as an extreme example of illegal practices and injustice. It is clear that this trial is not being conducted in keeping with universal norms. They are not even in keeping with the minimal rules of law that exist in Turkey. We are faced with a conspiracy in the truest sense of the word.”
Sancar stated that the attitude of the court bench and statements directed to the court by the ruling coalition partners exposed the true purpose of the case, saying: “This case is about political cleansing and revenge against the HDP. But the HDP is not the real target. The people’s search for justice is actually the main target, it is the struggle for democracy, it is the pursuit of peace. This case is like a laboratory creating various programmes against justice, democracy and peace. We say, that world history confirms, and that the experience of Turkey indicates that the injustices will not stop here, unlawfulness faced in any field does stop only in that field.”
Sancar indicated that where injustice occurred in one part of a country it would spread to all corners of that country. He continued:
“The things that have been done in the Kobane conspiracy case so far are not just in complete disregard of the law, they are also inhumane. The organisation of the long intervals between the hearings alone reveal how inhumane the conditions in which this show trial are being played out. Recently the court made a decision to take a two week break. The court bench changed. These intervals create insufferable difficulties for our colleagues on trial and their lawyers. Other examples so far in addition to all of this, include numerous violations, in particular restrictions in the right to defence, the removal of the right of our colleagues on trial to present their own defence. We have consistently said that the public needs to display widespread support and solidarity against these practices. The essence of this regime of injustice is clear. It constitutes a real threat that will spread to all forces of democracy.
Solidarity on trial
“Justice is only meaningful if it is equal for everybody. People who seek justice only for themselves should be aware that they play a part, directly or indirectly, in the spread of a system of injustice. The arbitrary practices we have observed in these hearings reveal the character of those who govern this country. We are met with something new every single day.”
Sancar mentioned about the way a child was urged to speak against the opposition on the stage in a presidential opening just one day before.
“The President is able to bring a child to a rally and get him to call leaders of the opposition traitors. The exploitation of this child is an issue. This is a serious violation of children’s rights and interference in the child’s world. It is a seriously unjust interference, but at the same time it reveals how pitiful and desperate the government is. This trial is a trial also against the solidarity displayed by the Kurdish people towards the Kobane resistance. Oppression of Kurdish language, Kurdish culture and the Kurdish people is becoming more widespread. Only yesterday we saw more images of the brutal intervention of police against street artists playing Kurdish music in Istiklal Caddesi [a historical street in Istanbul]. We are met with similar examples in many other fields. Our aim is to establish equal justice for all in this country.”
“We are watching carefully”
“A regime has been created in which justice cannot be actually sought in the courts. Restricting the public viewing of [the process of] justice and its courtrooms encourages an increasing lack of restraint of the system. Our colleagues on trial in the court rooms are effectively being tried by the mentality behind this case. Our lawyers are working to their utmost ability to ensure the requirements of justice and the law. But this is not the only place we need to ensure justice. We shall continue to pursue this, we are watching all the illegal actions carefully.
“We will render the trial invalid”
“We are going to continue, to strengthen and increase our struggle in all fields of life. The struggle for justice is one of the HDP’s reasons for existence. Without justice there can be no peace nor democracy. For this reason we shall continue to seek justice in the Kobane conspiracy case, both here outside the court, inside the court, and most of all among the people. Because we know that truth, justice, peace and democracy are all bound together with unbreakable bonds. If we want to establish a permanent peace and a strong democracy in this country we must not for one moment stop defending justice based on the truth. Whoever faces injustice, the HDP will be there with them. Our call to all the forces of democracy, all citizens who trust in justice and demand justice, is to increase and strengthen the joint struggle. It is the forces of democracy coming together that will present a real alternative to this system. Strong unity is needed for a future based on peace and democracy.
“We will render the Kobane conspiracy trial invalid. We have the strength to bury the injustices on which this regime depends to the rubbish bins of history. It is enough that we use this strength as a resource for an effective joint struggle. Let us remember that we all have a responsibility to carry out our roles to the maximum in this matter.”
After the statement the HDP delegation attended the hearing being held in Sincan Prison.
