Amed – The 20^th hearing of the trial opened against Free Women’s Movement (TJA) Spokesperson Ayşe Gökkan was held today by Diyarbakır 9^th High Criminal Court. Ayşe Gökhan attended the hearing through Audio-Visual Information System (SEGBİS) while her lawyers Berfin Gökkan and Muharrem Şahin were present in the hearing room. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MPs Remziye Tosun and Dersim Dağ, and Democratic Regions’ Party (DBP) Diyarbakır Co-chair Saliha Aydeniz, and many members of the TJA, HDP in Batman, Dersim, Şırnak and Mardin and Ayşe Gökhan’s family also attended the hearing.

She wasn’t allowed to defend herself in her mother language

Ayşe Gökhan demanded to defend herself in her mother language however, the court refused her demand. Thereupon, Ayşe Gökhan said she wouldn’t defense herself while facing such obstruction. Her lawyer Muharrem Şahin began to talk and said, “We don’t know why our client is behind bars. There is no evidence in the file to hold her in prison. Before, she made her defense and released. When an arrest warrant was issued against our client, she was out of the city. Despite that, she returned to the city and attended the hearing. Her escape is out of the question.”

Then, her lawyer Berfin Gökkan talked and she demanded Ayşe Gökhan to be released. After the defenses of the lawyers, the court decided that Ayşe Gökhan remains in prison during the trial. The next hearing will be held on June 23.

Gülcihan Şimşek sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison

The final hearing of the trial opened against TJA activist Gülcihan Şimşek for allegedly “being a member of a (terrorist) organization” was held today by Diyarbakır 11^th High Criminal Court. Gülcihan Şimşek didn’t attend the hearing while her lawyers Cemile Turhallı Balsak, Gulan Çağın Kaleli and Şivan Cemil Özer attended the hearing.

The court has sentenced Gülcihan Şimşek to seven years and six months in prison for allegedly, “being a member of a (terrorist) organization”.