ANKARA - Former deputy Ayla Akat Ata, who spoke in the Kobanê Case, stated that the election campaign was considered a crime and added that the reason for her continued detention was made on three charges that were added to the file later on.

 

The 4th session of the 5th hearing of the Kobanê Case, which was opened against 108 people, including the executives of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), due to the protests that took place on 6-8 October 2014 over the ISIS attacks on Kobanê, was held at the Sincan Prison Campus. 

 

HDP Deputies, HDP Mersin and Ankara provincial and district members and administrators, as well as many lawyers and observers attended the hearing held by the Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court. While the politicians held in Sincan Prison were present in the courtroom, the politicians held in different prisons were attended the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from the prisons they are in. Other politicians who were tried without arrest attended the hearing through SEGBİS in their cities.

 

Ayla Akat Ata, a former MP and a TJA activist, who spoke first at the hearing said: “The agenda in Turkey now flows on a daily basis. We woke up with a different agenda on TV this morning," said Akat, adding: "Turkey was among the countries that are involved in money laundring. On August 3, 2021, there was a call made by the Ministry of Interior to the public saying, "Do not use hate speech, do not be fooled by those who make someone a target, do not lynch anyone. The court will make a decision about them". Now we are all on trial for it. I would also like to express that all the troubles the country is in can be resisted by revealing the mechanisms that can achieve common results.”

 

‘WHEN THE CONJUNCTURE CHANGES, DOES THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT CHANGE TOO?’

 

Expressing that she wanted to specify two issues in the interim decision at the end of the June hearing, Ata said, “There were two issues that were not included in the indictment. The solution process has been targeted through me, and the women's peace struggle has been targeted. I'll make my defense on that later. But you asked for all my tweets until 2020 when I was arrested. I was in the first delegation to the island in 2013, then we followed this process in the women's struggle. But the those tweets are defined as crimes today. When the conjuncture in Turkey changes, does the element of crime also change? I would like to point out that if we have done things and said things, the fact that we were not sued that day. This leaves a question mark in our minds."

 

CAMPAIGNING FOR ELECTION CONSIDERED TO BE A CRIME 

 

Stating that there are 3 annexes added to the file after her detention  Ata said, "In the news about a delegation that went to Kobanê with the permission of the state, it is stated that I was included in the first one, and that I was in the delegation. It was proved by videos that I wasn't there. Despite the warnings of our lawyers, the news article in question is still in the file and is the reason for my arrest. Another reason why I am in prison is being involved in the election campaign. And I didn't even made a speech that day. My participation in election campaign, which is guaranteed in the Constitution, was considered to be a crime. It was considered a crime for me to attend the meeting of the left socialist parties visiting us from Europe. Attending a meeting where all known security measures were taken was considered a reason for my arrest. And these were added to the file later. I could not find it anywhere in the indictment.”

 

'WILL A NEW INDICTMENT BE PREPARED?'

 

Noting that an additional indictment should be prepared in order to be able to make a trial outside the indictment, Ata said, "If you are going to try me, you can prepare an additional indictment, but you are collecting documents on things that do not exist. You could have asked me here. Is there a plan to prepare a new indictment against me? I will prepare my defense accordingly."

 

'INSISTANCE IN THE DEADLOCK OF THE KURDISH QUESTION'

 

Recalling the statement made by Erdoğan as Prime Minister in Diyarbakır in 2005, where he used the term Kurdish question for the first time, Ata said, “A lot has passed since 2005. But democracy has not been established, and the deadlock is still insisted on." Referring to the discussions on the new Constitution, Ata said, “The nation alliance are having a new Constitution prepared. This is important. It is stated in it that everyone is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey. But I want to feel it. I want to feel that I am a citizen of this country. My mother tongue is Zazaki, but I want my language to be recognized.”

 

The trial continues with the defenses made regarding the detention review.