15 Years in Jail for 7 Speeches
Şerafettin Halis, former Tunceli Deputy of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), received a prison sentence of 15 years, six months and 15 days on charges of "membership in an illegal organization" and "making propaganda for an illegal organization". The verdict was given by the Malatya Special Authority 3rd High Criminal Court on 28 March.
The sentence stems from seven speeches Halis delivered during the run-up to the elections on 12 June 2011 and in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Halis's lawyer Hasan Doğan claimed that the speeches on subject were made within the scope of "freedom of expression" and hence he requested his client's acquittal.
However, the court evaluated the speeches in the scope of "membership in an illegal organization and spreading propaganda for the organization".
Lawyer Doğan criticized that the sentence given to Halis was contrary to the law and announced to lodge an appeal.
"Whatever I said, a file was prepared about me"
As reported in the press, Halis commented on his sentence and said that being a Member of Parliament in Turkey had no meaning anymore since even deputies were being investigated.
"Trials were opened against me on the grounds of speeches I made at meetings and press releases in Dersim, which was my election district when I was a parliamentarian. Seven of these trials were decided yesterday. Even Members of Parliament are being investigated in Turkey nowadays. Where ever I made a speech, a file was prepared about me".
"I did nothing else but talking to my electorate and giving information. Every meeting that I attended on behalf of my party was accounted for as an offence. There is nothing to say anymore. There are still another 20 files pending against me. Let's see how many more years will come out of that". (AS)