A court in the western province of Kocaeli has sentenced Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy co-chair Aysel Tuğluk to one-and-a-half years in jail in a case in which she stands trial for “organizing and managing” illegally conducted protests in front of the Kocaeli Prison, where she is currently imprisoned on terror-related charges.
The Kandıra Criminal Court of First Instance on Jan. 2 found Tuğluk guilty over “violation of law on meetings and demonstrations” during the hearing.
Tuğluk and her lawyer Nurin Tan were present at the hearing during which the deputy co-chair denied the charges and demanded her acquittal.
There are currently eight HDP deputies jailed on terror charges, including the party’s co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş.
HDP’s former co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, who was stripped of her seat in parliament, is also imprisoned.