Former HDP Mardin MP Gulser Yildirim was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison despite a Supreme Court ruling on the contrary.

The 7 year 6 month sentence issued to Yildirim had been overturned by the Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice. Following the ruling, the case was launched again and the 4th hearing was held at the Mardin High Penal Court No.3.

HDP MPs Ebru Gunay, Dersim Dag and Ayse Acar Basaran, Yildirim’s relatives and HDP Mardin chapter were following the hearing. Yildirim reportedly refused the shuttle service “due to health issues”.

Lawyer Erdal Kuzu said the crimes alleged to Yildirim fall within the bounds of parliamentary immunity as they were part of speeches she gave as she was a MP, and demanded the halt of the case.

The prosecutor asked for a rejection of the demands and the Court complied with the prosecutor.

Yildirim’s lawyer Azad Yildirim said it has come to light that the crimes alleged to Yildirim are abstract and mentioned the Supreme Court ruling.

Lawyer Gulistan Duran said Yildirim is under arrest for political reasons. Duran said: “My client has been on remand for over 2 years. This is not proportionate or measured. Turkey has been sentenced many times by the ECHR for long periods of remand. We expect compliance with the ECHR rulings.”

Ali Kahraman said he won’t submit a defense regarding the merit before his client defends herself and lawyer Erdal Kuzu said: “We are at a time when the judiciary is being politicized. But despite this fact, we are trying to reach the truth.”

The court issued a verdict after the lawyers’ speeches and sentenced Yildirim to the same 7 years and 6 months in prison. The court also ruled for the continuation of Yildirim’s arrest.