The final hearing of the KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) Hakkari case was held at Van 5th High Criminal Court on Tuesday.

Nine Kurdish politicians, six under arrest, have been tried in KCK Hakkari case for more than 13 months now.

Lawyers demanded the release of defendants, remarking that police had falsified the records of defendants' phone conversations and that the counsel for the prosecution had put forward ungrounded allegations against defendants. Lawyers also criticized the court for relying on the statements of secret witnesses.

The court board, refusing lawyers' demand for the release of defendants, sentenced nine Kurdish politicians to 60 years and 11 months in prison.

The court board sentenced Daveti Tan, Cemil Akış, Abdulhakim Kaya, Hakkari provincial council member Lokman Abi and DÖKH (Democratic Free Women's Movement) activist Medine Duran to six years and three months in prison each, Mehmet Sıddık Yıldırım, Sait Gezer, Necman Öner and Seyfettin Temel to seven years and five months in prison each.