Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ercis former co-mayor Yıldız Çetin, who was arrested after being replaced by a government-appointed trustee in Van, has been sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in jail.

The final hearing of Çetin was held at the 5th High Criminal Court of Van on Thursday. Çetin is accused of being a “member of a terrorist organization”. Çetin attended the hearing with the Video Conferencing System (SEGBİS) from Osmaniye T-Type Prison where she was held. Her lawyers were present in the courtroom.

Journalists and politicians who wanted to follow the hearing were not admitted to the courtroom on the grounds of pandemic measures.

Çetin reiterated her defense from the previous hearing and demanded her release. Çetin's lawyers pointed to the other people who had been released earlier from the same file and asked the court to release their client.

The court sentenced Çetin to 7 years and 6 months in prison and ruled for her release.