Kadri Saka was sentenced to two years in prison by the Higher Regional Court in Hamburg for membership of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in accordance with §129b of the German Criminal Code (StGB). The court found it proven that the Kurdish activist had ‘promoted the PKK/KCK from within’ in Bremen from December 2018 until his arrest in January 2024.

Kadri Saka is alleged to have worked as a ‘money collector’ and to have been an important link between the PKK's ‘area manager’ and the Kurdish population in Bremen. ‘You have diligently and extensively done the actual work,’ said the presiding judge in the verdict.

The judge argued that in Kadri Saka’s apartment in Bremen, a picture of Abdullah Öcalan hangs between photos of family members, and his work as a mediator in conflicts in the Kurdish community in Bremen is also aimed at ‘enforcing the PKK's claim to power’ and strengthening the PKK.

In the grounds for the judgment, it was pointed out that Kadri Saka has been in pre-trial detention ‘under aggravated conditions’ for ten months. A decision is yet to be made on whether to change the detention statute. The courtroom was full of spectators, and at the end of the proceedings, those present showed their solidarity with Kadri Saka by applauding.