Arrested politician Kışanak arrested again: ‘She might flee abroad’

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As part of an investigation launched by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into "Kobani protests" in 2014, former Diyarbakır Metropolitan Co-Mayor Gültan Kışanak and former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Gülser Yıldırım, both arrested in Kandıra Prison, testified at judgeship via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) on Friday (October 16).

As reported by the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), both Kışanak and Yıldırım had been referred to the Ankara 5th Penal Judgeship of Peace with a request for their detention on remand.

Handing down its ruling following the statements of defense, the judgeship has ruled that Gültan Kışanak shall be arrested on the grounds that "the investigation has not yet been concluded, she might have an influence on the statements of the parties in the event of her release on the charges that led to her arrest, the one investigated on the offense charged has the means to easily flee abroad and judicial control measures will not suffice."

Yıldırım released to house arrest

Pronouncing its judgement on Gülser Yıldırım, the judgeship indicated that there was strong criminal evidence against the remanded politician; however, considering her and her attorneys' statements that she had been put on trial as part of the same investigation, the judgeship has concluded that judicial control measures will suffice if she is released in the investigations where she was remanded in custody.

Accordingly, concluding that her detention on remand is not proportional, the judgeship has ruled that Gülser Yıldırım shall be released to house arrest and she shall be subjected to judicial control measures.

22 politicians currently behind bars

The following politicians are behind bars as part of the same "Kobani investigation": Former HDP Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş (September 20, 2019); HDP Central Executive Committee member Alp Altınörs, HDP Foreign Affairs Commission member Nazmi Gür, former MP Ayla Akat Ata, former HDP Central Executive Committee members, Bircan Yorulmaz, Berfin Özgü Köse, Dilek Yağlı, Can Memiş, Günay Kubilay, Bülent Parmaksız, Pervin Oduncu, İsmail Şengün and Cihan Erdal, former HDP General Accountant Zeki Çelik, HDP RTÜK member Ali Ürküt, HDP's Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen, former MP Prof. Emine Beyza Üstün, Emine Ayna (October 2); Democratic Regions Party (DBP) former C-Chair Sebahat Tuncel and former MP Aysel Tuğluk (October 12).

About the Kobani protests

Before the protests held to support Kobani in northern Syria in 2014, those who were waiting in the district of Suruç, Urfa in southeastern Turkey and wanted to cross the border were intervened with pepper gas and rubber bullets. In the meantime, some pictures allegedly showing ISIS militia crossing the border of Turkey were published.

President and ruling AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements indicating that they equated PKK with ISIS. While the wounded coming from Kobani were kept waiting on the border, the wounded from ISIS were treated at hospitals. Several news reports were reported in the press, saying "Kobani fell." These news reports were denied every time.

After the HDP made a call to take to the streets against a possible massacre in Kobani, thousands of people protested in Kurdish-majority provinces as well as Ankara and İstanbul. While left parties also supported these protests, deaths also occurred with the onset of police violence. Street conflicts ensued. 42 people lost their lives from October 6 to 12, 2014.

According to a report by the Human Rights Association (İHD), 46 people died, 682 people were wounded and 323 people were arrested in the protests held between October 6 and 8, 2014. As reported by the AA, 31 people lost their lives, 221 citizens and 139 police officers were wounded.

Conducted by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman, the investigation started a year ago. First, the depositions of former jailed HDP Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş were interrogated as part of this investigation. Released in the trial where he had been arrested pending trial, Demirtaş faced another ruling of arrest as part of this "Kobani investigation" on the same day. (EMK/SD)