On charges of being a member of the legal Democratic Society Congress (DTK), 22 defendants were sentenced to record prison terms in the 6th session of a criminal case that has been ongoing since 12 December 2016.

Among the defendants are the co-mayor of Bozova Zeynel Taş, HDP Haliliye district co-chair Halit Yıldıztekin, deputy mayor of Viranşehir Mehmet Sinan Burun, DBP Eyyübiye district co-chair İzzettin Gök, Halfeti City Councilor Bazo Yılmaz, Ceylanpınar DBP former co-chair Hizni Kılıç, HDP former provincial co-Chairs Asuman Yaman and Adnan Etli.

While the prosecutor demanded imprisonment for "membership and propaganda for an illegal organization”, the defendants declared that the subject of the lawsuit was legal party activities and demanded acquittal. The defense lawyers once again stated that the DTK is a legal institution and that the work of the defendants cannot be declared a criminal offense. Remarking that other accusations are political party activities within the framework of democratic rights, lawyers also demanded acquittal.

Subsequently, the proceedings against Sinan Burun, Cemo Tüysüz, Fatma Doğan, Hizni Kılıç and İzettin Gök were separated under a different procedure.

While Fehime Turan and Ahmet İnal were acquitted, the other defendants were convicted "membership and propaganda for an illegal organization” and "violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations".

The prison sentences given to the Kurdish politicians are as follows;

Zeynel Taş 10 years and 22 months,

İzettin Akıl 8 years and 22 months,

Bazo Yılmaz 9 years,

Halit Yıldıztekin 10 years and 19 months,

Adnan Etli 9 years,

Asuman Yaman 7 years and 18 months,

Gülay Koca Öztürkoğlu 7 years and 6 months,

former mayor of Aligor, Halil Parıldar 7 years and 6 months,

Şefika Kandal 7 years and 6 months,

Cengiz Çakır 1 year, 6 months and 22 days (suspended),

Mustafa Altun 7 years and 6 months,

İbrahim Aykaş 7 years 6 months,

Mukri Vakar 7 years and 15 months,

former co-mayor of Ceylanpınar, İsmail Arslan 7 years and 15 months,

Şevket Çimen 1 year and six months imprisonment.

The court also ordered the continuation of arrest for those imprisoned and an international travel ban for those not imprisoned at the moment.

In Urfa, arrest warrants were issued for a total of 284 people on 12 December 2016. 80 of those affected were jailed. Of these 80 people, 22 were charged with "membership to an illegal organization". During the first five hearings, nine defendants had been released.