The international observers delegation that was denied permission to attend the hearings in Ankara of HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ on 6th and 7th December, released the following statement regarding their denial of the right to watch the hearings that have taken place over the past two days:

“The conditions within which the hearings are being held are also in our view a great cause for concern. Whereas as the hearings should have been held within the Ankara  regional court, they were moved to the specially built court house within the Sincan High  Security Prison Complex, the  location of which is remote without any proper public access. The complex is surrounded with tall barbedwired gates, and armed riot police. The public is under constant intimidation, with the threat of water cannons and constant video recording by police officers.

The basic principles of the rule of law require that it is not for the ruling elite or political institutions that change within the conjectural dynamics of a country that should dictate what is an offence or not but rather that this is set within statutes and constitutions. Accordingly, whilst an alleged act cannot be regarded as a crime without there being statutory backing, it is equally unacceptable that alleged offences, which are in fact guaranteed as rights and freedoms under the constitution cannot be regarded as evidence of membership to a "terror" or "illegal" organisation.

We as the international observers delegation have been denied the right to watch the hearings that have taken place over the past two days. Justice cannot be done behind closed doors. It must also be seen to be done. We feel therefore that the conditions within which the hearings were conducted, our arbitrary denial of access to the hearings, and general disregard to basic legal principles and norms removes these proceedings from the remit of fairness and places them firmly within the framework of politically motivated show trials, without any regard for the rule of law. In the midst of a broken judicial system, we are deeply concerned that the ability of the co-chairs to have fair trial is simply not possible under these conditions.”

Stewe Sweney - Journalist

Corinne Morel Darleux -General Secretary - Left Party, France

Jean-Christophe Sellin -Left Party, France

Jean-Paul Lecoq -MP French Communist Party

Sylvie Jean -Member of French Communist Party

Michel Laurent - Mem ber of French Communist Party

 Arturo Scotto -MP – Progress and Democratic Movement

 Alessio Arconzo -Adviser to Progress and Democratic Movement

 Tommaso Sasso- Representative of Leftist Youth of Progress and Democratic Movement Progress and Democratic Movement

Yilmaz Kerimo – MP Swedish Social Democrat Party

Eva-Lena Jansson - MP Swedish Social Democrat Party

Mari Eifring – MP  Norwegian Red Party

Margaret Owen -Lawyer, Director at Widows for Peace through Democracy

Ali Has -Lawyer,  Law Society of England and Wales

Hakan Taş- MP - German Left Party, Die Linke

Fabio Amato - Adviser to GUE/NGL In European Parliament

Eleonora Forenza - MEP GUE/NGL In European Parliament

Paul Maskey -MP Sinn Fein

Jennette Arnold - London General Assembly, Labour Party Member

Unmesh Desai - London General Assembly, Labour Party Member

Ali Gul Ozbek -Labour Party Member UK

Dennis McNulty -GMB Union Representative

Jonas  Sjöstedt -  President of the Swedish Left Party

Yasmine  Posio Nilsson - MP Swedish Left Party

Lord Maurice Glassman -  House of Lords UK

Lord David Watts -  House of Lords UK

Afroditi   Stampouli  -MP Syriza (Greece)

Turid  Thomassen - Lawyer – Norwegian  Bar

Beth Hart -Lawyer - Norwegian Bar