'Purely political’: Demirtas slams Kobane trial as second hearing held in Ankara

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The jailed former co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtas, said that the Kobane trial is “purely political” as the second hearing began on Tuesday.

In the hearing Demirtas said the case is not about Kobane. "The name, content and essence of this case is a conspiracy against the HDP. It is a case about political revenge against the HDP."

“The cause itself, its goals, and objectives, are purely political. The basis of the indictment is of no value,” the leader added.

More than 100 people are on trial, including Demirtas and other members of the HDP, over riots expressing solidarity with Kurds during the Islamic State (ISIS) attack on Kobane in northeast Syria (Rojava), accusing Turkey of standing by as it was besieged.

More than 30 people died and over 700 were injured when the protests turned violent.

Demirtas has been held in jail since November 2016 for his alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), considered by Ankara to be a terrorist organization. He faces up to 142 years in jail.

The pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya Agency reported on Tuesday that journalists were not allowed into the court room the on grounds that they didn’t have “state issued cards.” Those who were allowed in had their phones and computers confiscated, it added.

The first hearing began on April 26, but was suspended after lawyers left the courtroom in protest, with their colleagues not being granted access to the court proceedings.

HDP members were arrested in Mardin “in connection with a terrorist attack” on Tuesday morning, among them a 72-year-old woman, Firat News Agency (ANF) reported. 

Top Turkish officials have accused the HDP of being the political wing of the PKK, leading to the arrests of scores of their politicians - including former co-chairs and parliamentarians and members - in recent years on terror charges. Almost all of the party’s mayors, elected during the 2019 elections, have been removed from office and some of them arrested. The HDP denies any links to the PKK.