‘Attack on HDP Trial Verdict is Like a Gift for Suspects’

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Ruling has been announced as to the attack against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Headquarters.

All penalties imposed on five suspects have been reprieved. HDP Law Commission President and Adana MP, Meral Danış Beştaş evaluating the matter for bianet said the penalties are like a gift for the suspects.

Beştaş noting the ruling was unjust stated that they will go for an appeal.

Release in the first hearing

There were five suspects on September 7 as to the attack on HDP Headquarters. The only arrested suspect, Doğan Haydar Ciritçioğlu had been released in his first hearing on October 27 despite confessing that he set the building on fire, and looked for people in the building.

The court had overruled the HDP’s attorneys demand for the case to be sent to 2nd Heavy Penal Court by decision of lack of jurisdiction and have the trial be conducted over “organizing and being membership of [illegal] organization”.

Reprieve

The decision was announced today in the fourth hearing.

Defendant Ciritcioğlu has been sentenced to 7 years and 14 days in total for “damaging property by using caustic material”, “preventing political rights from being exercised”, “opposing Law on Meeting and Demonstration Rallies”, “attempted theft at night”, and “violation of immunity of work place”.

The penalties imposed on Ciritcioğlu have been reprieved for “not having a criminal record to prevent reprieve and an opinion formed that he will refrain from committing a crime”.

Other defendants Aykut Dinçer, Ali Yıldırım, İlker Çelen, and Mehmet Alan have each been sentenced to 5 months of prison for “opposing Law on Meeting and Demonstration Rallies”. However, announcement of the verdict has been adjourned for the suspects not having a criminal record earlier, their attitude in the trials and an opinion forming that he will refrain from committing a crime.

Danış Beştaş: Trial only for show

Meral Danış Beştaş said that reprieve and reduce in their penalties reveals the unwillingness in imposing penalty.

“Here is the feature of this trial; an attack was launched directly against headquarter with attempted murder, and hindering and annihilating political party activities. The defendant has been released after staying in prison only for 47 days.

“All procedures were carried out only for show. They were left out of option because of the present evidence and footage in the file. They imposed penalty but also absolved them by means of reprieves and reductions”.

“What would have happened if it were done against AKP?”

“The verdict is unjust. The jurisdiction didn’t give a decision that is impartial, independent and far from government’s influence.

“We never want such attacks to be launched against any parties but what would have happened if one-tenth of this attack had been carried out against the AKP (Justice and Development Party)?

“While there are this many people being punished for just expressing their ideas over defaming President, attacks on our party for some reason are being encouraged. We deem it as a terrible double standard and find it contrary to equality principle in law. (BK/TK)