Court rules to keep pro-Kurdish politicians Tuncel, Kışanak in jail

Duvar English

A court in the eastern province of Malatya has ruled to keep two pro-Kurdish politicians in jail in a retrial of their case that they're being tried on charges of "terrorism."

Former Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Sebahat Tuncel and former co-mayor of the southeastern province of Diyarbakır Gültan Kışanak are being retried following the reversal of judgement of a court in the southeastern province of Antep.

Kışanak was sentenced to 14 years in prison and Tuncel was handed 15 years in jail in February last year in the case.

Both politicians have been in jail for over three years and are accused of having links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - an accusation that pro-Kurdish parties have been facing for years.

Lawyers of Kışanak and Tuncel said that their clients are politicians and their political acts can't be accepted as PKK membership or propaganda, while also demanding their release.

The court ruled to keep both politicians in jail. The next hearing of the case will be held on March 9.