Three people have been handed a total of 440 years of imprisonment for allegedly participating in two attacks that resulted in the deaths of 7 soldiers in Cizre district of Şırnak province.

The trial of Mesut Gökhan, Yahya Altın and İbrahim Kaya, charged with causing the deaths of 7 soldiers and the wounding of 25 others concluded at the Amed no. 4 Serious Criminal Court. Accused Mesut Gökhan admitted he was a member of the PKK, but denied involvement in the attacks in question, asking to be acquitted. Accused İbrahim Kaya said he had gone to Cizre for treatment to his eye, adding that he had not taken part in the actions.

After a short break the judges announced their verdict. Mesut Gökhan was given 8 life sentences, 415 years imprisonment and a 20 thousand lira fine for causing the deaths of officer Gökhan Yavuz and conscripts Gökhan Soylu, Özkan Kılıç and Erdem Yüce and the wounding of 10 other soldiers in a clash that took place on 13 November 2007 and the deaths of soldiers Zeki Yolcu, Turan Dağmacı and Erhan Karataş shot while in a military vehicle passing through Cizre on 24 December 2008, and the wounding of 14 others. The court stated that on account of the accused having shown absolutely no remorse there would be no reduction of sentence.

The court sentenced Yahya Altın to 7 years imprisonment for "membership of an illegal organisation" and İbrahim Kaya to 18 years.

The court also sentenced Sadice, Ayşe and Fehime Altın, the owners of the house where the accused resided, to 3 years imprisonment for "aiding and abetting".