Kurdish politician in Turkey released hours after prison sentencing

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region —  A Turkish court in Agri province released a Kurdish politician hours after it sentenced him to almost nine years in prison after taking into consideration the four years he had already spent in jail, according to a pro-Kurdish news agency.    

Halil Aksoy is a former lawmaker for the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). He was detained in January 2016 under terror-related legislation for comments made in 2010 and 2011.

On Friday, he was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for "membership of a terrorist organization” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organization,” according to Mezopotamya Agency (MA). 

According to MA, Aksoy requested an acquittal and the court decided to release him just hours later, taking into consideration the time he has served in jail since 2016.

HDP lawmaker Meral Danis Bestas expressed her joy over the release of her former colleague, wishing the same to “all our friends who have been taken hostage.”

Ankara has detained scores of HDP officials and members, including former co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, since the failed coup attempt in July 2016. 

The putsch was blamed on Fethullah Gulen, former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the government included the HDP in its extensive clampdown on dissidents.

Most of the charges against Kurds and the HDP are over alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) - an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. It is regarded as a terror group by Ankara. 

Aksoy’s release is considered a rare development amid daily crackdowns on Kurdish politicians and activists in Turkey, most of whom remain in custody without formal charges.