MALATYA - Having the 6th hearing of the case that they have been on trial, imprisoned Kurdish woman politicans Sabahat Tuncel and Gülten Kışanak were not released.

The 6th hearing of the trial of Gültan Kışanak, previous Co-Mayor of the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality and Sabahat Tuncel, previous Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) which started again after the reversal of the judgement by the 18th Department of the Antep Regional Court of Justice was held today on the Malatya 5th Heavy Penal Court.

Kışanak and Tuncel could attend the hearing not in person, but via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBIS) from the Kandıra No 1 Type F Prison they are held. While giving their defense, Kışanak and Tuncel condemned the operations against women politicians and stated that they want to deliver their main statement of defense before the court in person at the next hearing. Their lawyers demanded the release of Kışanak and Tuncel considering their long period of arrest.

THE REQUEST OF RELEASE REJECTED

After the recess the court rejected the demand of release and postponed the next hearing to September 4.

HISTORY OF THE TRIAL

Kışanak and Tuncel was imprisoned in 2016 due to the investigation opened by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Malatya 1st Heavy Penal Court ruled the decision on the 12th hearing on February 2019 without hearing the defense of Tuncel. Until this decision the court saw 16 judges changed in 12 hearings. Kışanak was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months of prison on the grounds of "being a member of an organization" and to an additional 3 years of prison on the grounds of "making the propaganda of an organization". Tuncel was sentenced to 9 years and 9 months of prison on the grounds of "making the propaganda of an organization" and to an additional 5 years and 3 months of prison on the grounds of "making the propaganda of an organization".

The file, which was sent to the Antep Regional Administrative Court for appeal was reversed by the 18th Department of the Antep Regional Court of Justice. The trial was opened again at the Malatya 5th High Criminal Court thereupon.