The father of Leyla Şaylemez, who was killed in Paris alongside Sakine Cansız and Fidan Doğan in 2013, was acquitted in the trial he stood for participating in a commemoration for his daughter.
Kurdish Youth Movement member Leyla Şaylemez was murdered along with PKK founding member Sakine Cansız and KNK representative Fidan Doğan in Paris on January 9, 2013. The contract killer died in custody, and the principals have not been charged or convicted to date.
The father of Leyla Şaylemez, Abdulbari Şaylemez, was put on trial in Turkey for allegedly “making propaganda for the PKK” at a commemoration event for the victims of the triple murder in the heart of the French capital.
The hearing took place at the 4th Heavy Penal Court in Diyarbakır on Tuesday. Speaking here, Abdulbari Şaylemez said: “My daughter Leyla was murdered in a terror attack in Paris. On 7 January 2017, I attended a commemoration event at the invitation of the Municipality of Paris. I attended the event to pay tribute to my daughter and I do not think that it constitutes a crime.”
Abdulbari Şaylemez noted that he had been banned from leaving the country for 5 months because of the ongoing trial and the ban was an unjust measure against his person and the family as he did business in Germany. He demanded his acquittal.
The lawyer of Şaylemez stated that his client did not chant a slogan during the commemoration event in question, citing the video analysis report as proof.
While the prosecution demanded that Şaylemez be sentenced for “spreading terror propaganda”, the court board ruled for his acquittal.
