News Center - A legal case was launched against 108 people, including HDP former Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, over their roles in the 2014 protests in support of Kobanî. The third hearing of the trial, known as Kobanî Trial, continues on its fifth day. Many people, including HDP MPs, have followed the hearing held at the hall of the Sincan Prison by the Ankara 22^nd High Criminal Court. HDP former Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality former Co-mayor Gültan Kışanak, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) former Co-chair Sebahat Tuncel and HDP former Central Executive Board member Zeynep Ölbeci attended the hearing from prison through the audio-visual information system (SEGBIS).

HDP former Central Executive Board members Can Memiş, Cihan Erdal and Berfin Özgü Köse, who were released from prison on the second day of the hearing, and HDP former MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder attended the hearing from Istanbul through the SEGBIS. HDP former Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, HDP former MPs Gülser Yıldırım and Aysel Tuğluk didn’t attended the hearing.

Sebahat Tuncel: Deniz is not the first but we want she will be the last

DBP former Co-chair Sebahat Tuncel began to speak during the hearing. She talked about yesterday’s attack on the office of the HDP in Izmir and the murder of Deniz Poyraz. “We witnessed a terrible political murder. Deniz is nıt the first but we want she will be the last. I express my condolences to her family, our party, the Kurdish people, and the peoples of Turkey. He entered our building freely and carried out a massacre. A meeting participated by 40 people was planned in the building. If the meeting hadn’t been canceled, more people would be killed. The people governing this country, particularly the AKP-MHP coalition, call the Kurdish people “terrorist”. They accuse HDP MPs every day. Those responsible are those who call people to hold a sit-in in front of our party buildings. If they feel sad about this incident, they must give up their racist, religious and nationalist discourses and anti-Kurdish policies. If our friend Deniz Poyraz is not alive today, it means that the attacks against the HDP continue. The killer was sent to Syria by SADAT, he was taught how to use weapons. He said, “I am at your service. He took photos with weapons. But no prosecutor launched an investigation against him. But the Kurds, who shared their feelings, criticized the AKP, have been stood trial.”

She ended her speech with “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” slogan

Sebahat Tuncel emphasized that they will never accept the attack on the HDP and added, “We will seek justice here. When people die, they never come back. We will not forget this massacre. Something should be done for democracy in order to find the killers of Deniz Poyraz. Jin, Jiyan, Azadi.”

Figen Yüksekdağ: This is a trial for provocation

After the speech of Sebahat Tuncel, HDP former Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ began to speak. Figen Yüksekdağ condemned the attack on the office of the HDP in Izmir and the murder of Deniz Poyraz. “Surely, this trial has a truth that needs to be remembered by us and you. This is a trial for provocation. You try to hold this trial under this provocation. Those responsible for this trial are Süleyman Soylu, President Erdoğan, and MHP. This is a lynching attempt by the instigators against the HDP and millions of people. This is not a trial, but torture. As you hold this hearing, mass massacres have been carried out against the HDP. You become a stooge no matter you want it or not. You may be under pressure but I am also under pressure. But we continue to speak out for the sake of this country. Release our friends; this trial becomes a tool for torture.”

Gültan Kışanak:”Deniz will live in women’s struggle”

Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality former Co-mayor Gültan Kışanak began to speak by commemorating Deniz Poyraz.  “Deniz will live in women’s struggle forever. Women will never be intimidated or kept silent. ISIS committed a crime against humanity. They abducted, raped, and sold women as slaves. Despite everything, they couldn’t end women’s struggle. We made a call to prevent what had happened in Shengal to happen in Kobanî. This trial was opened with the mentality of ISIS and this mentality killed Deniz Poyraz. Those who stand behind this mentality are those who try to judge us today,” Gültna Kışanak said.

“We know very well who the killers of Deniz Poyraz are”

Gültan Kışanak noted that the person, who killed Deniz Poyraz, took courage from President Erdoğan and SADAT. “Those who try to cover this murder are the people who sent their counter-guerrilla forces to Kobanî to kill innocent people. The killers of Deniz Poyraz are these people. Her killer is not only the armed man; we know very well who they are. Deniz is our honor; she will live in our heart and struggle forever. She is the flag of women’s struggle for freedom. I express my condolences to our people.”