The final hearing of the trial against15 Kurdish politicians in Iğdır was held at Erzurum 4th High Criminal Court on Monday. The politicians, including members of BDP (Peace and Democracy) party and municipal councils, had been taken into custody in the scope of KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) operation in Iğdır on 26 November 2012.

BDP Iğdır Party Council members Orhan Artuç and Ferzende Abay, who were being tried without arrest, have been sentenced to six years and three months in prison each for allegedly being “members of an illegal organization”. Thirteen other Kurdish politicians were released by the court.

Speaking after the hearing, Kurdish politicians' lawyer Mehmet Emin Adıyaman said that they would appeal to the Court of Appeals against the prison sentence given to Artuç and Abay.