Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ağrı Provincial General Assembly member Mehmet Birdal, who was arrested in Iran, where he went for trade, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Hengaw Human Rights Organization said that the Maku Criminal Court sentenced Birdal for "membership in the PKK", "attempting to harm Iran's national security" and "providing financial resources to organizations that are against Iran".

Hengaw reported that Birdal, who was arrested in the city of Maku in Urmia in September 2021, has been deprived of his right to a lawyer since the day he was detained and has not met with his family.