The final hearing of the case filed against former Silopi (Silopiya) Municipality co-mayor Seyfettin Aydemir on charges of "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state" was held.

The court panel agreed with the prosecutor’s opinion and sentenced Aydemir to 6 years and 3 months in prison for "being a member of an illegal organization".
Reacting to the prison sentence, Aydemir explained that he was the Silopi Municipality co-mayor at the time, that he was removed from his position in 2016 by an unlawfully appointed trustee, and that numerous lawsuits were filed against him.

Aydemir, who is currently serving as the DEM Party Adana Provincial co-chair, added: "This sentence is definitely not a legal decision. The decision is definitely a political decision. This sentence was given without any concrete evidence. This sentence, given with lame excuses for 'membership of an organization' in a process where Mr. Öcalan's call on 27 February and social peace was established, is unacceptable. This decision is definitely not legal. It is a political decision. It is null and void from our perspective. No decision will ever make us give up our struggle for peace and democracy."

Who is Seyfettin Aydemir

Seyfettin Aydemir, a teacher with 27 years of service, who was elected as the co-mayor of Silopi district of Sirnak (Şirnex) by receiving 85 percent of the votes in the local elections held on March 30, 2014, was suspended from his post on 2 March 2016.

Aydemir was detained as part of an investigation into the allegation of "being a member of a terrorist organization" during house raids in February 2016, and was released by the court to which he was brought. A case was filed against Aydemir by the Cizre 2nd High Criminal Court on the charge of "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state."