Trial against Kobane protesters begins in Ankara

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A trial against more than 100 people who took part in a protest against the Islamic State (ISIS) assault on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane, including members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Party (HDP), began in Ankara on Monday.

A total of 108 people, including large swathes of members and officials from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), will be tried in relation to riots that took place in 2014, when protesters across Turkey – especially its Kurdish-majority southeast – took to the streets to express solidarity with Kurds in Kobane. More than 30 people died, and over 700 were injured when the protests turned violent.

The protesters accused the Turkish army of standing by ISIS militants besieging the town.

The HDP has been accused of inciting violence during the speeches made at the time.

"The Kobane case is in no sense a case based on law. It is a conspiracy. Its purpose is to seek revenge. Yet here, the truth will judge the lies. From this courtroom, courage will spread across Turkey," HDP co-chairs Mithat Sancar and Pervin Buldan said in a briefing held prior to the trial.

The hearing was suspended after lawyers left the courtroom in protest, with their colleague not being granted access to the court proceedings.

According to the HDP, around 100 lawyers were not allowed in the courtroom, but riot police officers were present. The lawyers were asked to follow the hearing from the gallery.

"If you want to continue the trial, call our lawyers. Don't confuse us with the putschists. We don't fear anyone but God. You can't raise your voice at our lawyers or us. We represent the people," said HDP former co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, who is also among the defendants.

"We are not kids; do not confuse us with others. Let the defense in," he added.

A number of the accused were present at the court for the first hearing, while others joined via livestream from prison cells, already detained on other charges.

Demirtas has been held in prison since 2016 over alleged terror offences, with his continued detention drawing ire from human rights groups.

"The defense lawyers were not allocated enough seats, but the riot police are all over the courtroom," read a tweet posted by HDP English during the trial.

Progressive International, a movement supporting global activism, described the trial as cruel" and "absurd.”

Accusations of inciting violence had previously been dismissed by the European Court of Human Rights, it noted in a statement.

No media outlets were allowed inside the court.

The pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya agency reported the detention of a number of people, including HDP executives in Diyarbakir (Amed), before the start of the trial on Monday morning.

Trial against Kobane protesters begins in Ankara

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