The final hearing of the lawsuit filed against Hakkari’s elected co-mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was replaced by a trustee and sent to Van Prison, was held on Wednesday. The democratically elected and unlawfully ousted co-mayor is accused of ‘committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organisation without being a member of the organisation’ and ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’.

Akış attended the hearing at Hakkari Heavy Penal Court via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). The prosecutor claimed in his final opinion that Akış participated in marches following the call of an illegal organisation. Akış, on the other hand, emphasised that the case was political and that the main purpose of the investigation was to appoint a trustee to Hakkari.

“The goal has already been achieved. The investigation and prosecution has nothing to do with the law. Where is the offence in my speeches on the day of the incident? I talk about peace and brotherhood in my speeches. These have been translated and when did it become a crime to say these things?” he asked.

Akış continued his defence as follows: “Why do we become separatists when we talk about unity and solidarity? If I commit a crime when I talk about isolation, why is Bahçeli (MHP leader) not prosecuted when he says, ‘isolation should be lifted’? This is a double standard. There should be no isolation, war and marginalisation. On the 101st anniversary of the founding of the republic, the President said, ‘they marginalised and persecuted’. Why is it not a crime when the head of the state says it, but a crime when we say it? I used my right to criticise in my speech.”

Alkış emphasised that the appointment of a trustee is usurpation of will and denounced the governorate bans on meetings and demonstrations, while his lawyers demanded acquittal.

Announcing the verdict, the court sentenced Akış to 7 years and 6 months for ‘committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organisation without being a member of the organisation’ and 1 year and 6 months for ‘opposing the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’.