Former HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ was sentenced to prison for a statement she had made about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while in custody.

Among other things she had said that “Erdoğan has a shady political background ". This was enough for the prosecutor to open a case against her for ‘insulting the President’.

The hearing held at Diyarbakır 13rd Criminal Court of First Instance was attended by President Erdogan's lawyer Sami Kabadayi and Yüksekdağ’s lawyer Serdar Celebi, while Yüksekdağ had said she would not join the hearing via audio and video information system (SEGBIS).

At the hearing, Erdoğan's lawyer Sami Kabadayı stated that they could not confirm Yüksekdağ’s submission of an excuse petition, arguing that Yüksekdağ aimed at prolonging the case. “The defendant's remarks are aimed at insulting and humiliating my client” said the lawyer who asked for the former HDP co-chair to be sentenced.

Yüksekdağ’ lawyer, Serdar Çelebi, said “my client had previously stated that she wanted to present her defense at court. Yet, in this court, the face-to-face principle for a defense at court was not upheld.”

The court sentenced Yüksekdağ to one year and 6 months in prison for “insulting the President”.

Evaluating the sentence, lawyer Serdar Celebi said: “During 7 hearings nobody showed up on behalf of the complainant. We do not see the decision in accordance with law. This is a violation of many international conventions.”