The Human Rights Association (IHD) Central Executive Board member Sait Çağlayan was detained in 2012 in Hakkari province on the grounds of a fake e-mail address.

While Çağlayan was released after a while, a lawsuit was filed against him based on an anonymous witness statement after eight years.

The IHD official attended the 7th hearing of the trial at the Hakkari 3rd Hevay Penal Court via sound and video information system (SEGBİS) from Ankara. He was accused of “being a member of a terrorist organization”.

“It is not legal for the prosecution to prepare an indictment and give its opinion based on anonymous witness statements without presenting any evidence. Human rights defenders should not be prosecuted for their activities concerning fundamental rights and freedoms. All my activities are related to human rights. They should never be the subject of litigation. Human rights defenders can never renounce fundamental human rights and freedoms,” he said during his defence.

The court has sentenced Çağlayan to 6 years and 3 months in prison based on an anonymous witness statement.