Peoples Democracy Party (HDP) Co-chair Sebahat Tuncel, commenting on the 8 year 9 month sentence that has been ratified by the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeal, said: “It is clear that this judgment is political, not judicial. Our struggle will continue."

Tuncel remarked that they now expectws the government to announce that the judicial process is independent.

The law is independent for the Kurds, but when it comes to the government they are tactless, Tuncel said and added that: "Today there are thousands of our colleagues in jail. We are no different to them, but this judgment demonstrates clearly the attitude to Kurdish politicians."

Tuncel contrasted the release of CHP MP Mustafa Balbay, who was charged in the Ergenekon case, with that of elected Kurdish deputies who remain in custody, adding: "It is evident that the state is insisting on non-resolution".

Tuncel continued, saying the judgment was designed to prevent the HDP’s efforts towards democratisation, adding: "this struggle will continue, inside parliament and outsi

Following the ratification of Tuncel's sentence, a campaign was set up on social media at "#SebahatTuncelOnurumuzdur".

HDP also released a statement reacting to the ratification of Sebahat Tuncel's prison sentence of 8 years 9 months for membership of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) by the 9th Chamber of the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeal, saying: "This decision is a blow against the struggle for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish question, and against the political activities of the HDP." The HDP recalled that Sebahat Tuncel had been in custody on trial at the no. 10 Istanbul Serious Criminal Court when elected in 2007 and was subsequently released.

The HDP statement pointed out that when the same court had passed sentence in 2012 it was after Prime Minister Erdoğan had said: "We told the judiciary. They will do what is necessary," adding that this sentence based on unproven evidence given by an informer 6 years later had been ratified in the record time of only 1 year.

The HDP statement emphasised that there are different legal standards for the Kurds from those used for the Turks.

The HDP statement continued: "We consider that decisions such as these bring Turkey closer to a situation of conflict and disorder. We will not remain silent at this injustice and will resist the targeting of deputies elected by the people. The imprisoning of thousands and oppression and persecution have not brought results in the past and will not do so in the future. The current state crisis has demonstrated that there are many elements of the judicial process the legitimacy of which are being debated. We do not accept that this judgment regarding our Co-chair Sebahat Tuncel is a legitimate one. We will take this to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. And we will also continue our democratic political struggle and not remain silent."

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak also released a statement against the court ruling, condemned the prison sentence which they commented as a blow against the right to democratic politics.