AMED -  Kurdish politician Selma Irmak was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison on allegations of "insulting the president" and "publicly humiliating the government".

 

The decision hearing of the case filed on the grounds of the statements, she made on a television program in 2015 about former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Selma Irmak, Hacı Lokman Birlik's body being tied and dragged behind a panzer, Ekin Wan's body being exposed naked, the murder of healthcare worker Abdülaziz Yural and ambulance driver Şeyhmus Dursun, and the destruction of cemeteries in different cities, was held.

 

The hearing of the case filed on allegations of "insulting the President" and "publicly insulting the government" twice was held at Diyarbakır 9th Criminal Court of First Instance. Selma Irmak did not attend the hearing, but her lawyer Raci Bilici was present. The prosecution reiterated its opinion demanding punishment.

 

'IMMUNITY HAS BEEN IGNORED'

 

Lawyer Raci Bilici requested additional time. Bilici said: “We do not accept the unfavorable issues in the prosecution's opinion, the client was a member of parliament at the time of the crime and has legislative immunity. Her immunity has been removed unlawfully."

 

Recalling the ECtHR decisions, Bilici said: "Our client's statements must be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression in accordance with national and international regulations; therefore, we request that my client be acquitted."

 

The court announced its decision on the grounds that "there was no other issue to investigate". The court sentenced Irmak to 1 year and 3 months in prison on the charge of "publicly insulting the government" and to 2 years and 11 months in prison on the charge of "insulting the president".