A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Ramazan Demir, a lawyer for jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirta?, to more than 11 years in prison, in a case targeting rights advocates and prisoners’ relatives, convictions that come as Ankara pursues renewed peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The ?stanbul 14th High Criminal Court on Wednesday handed down prison sentences to 28 defendants, including lawyers from the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) and members of the now-closed Solidarity Association of Prisoners’ Families (TUAD), on charges related to alleged links to the PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, the ?stanbul-based Media and Law Studies Association reported.
Demir, a member of the ÖHD and part of Demirta?’s legal team, was sentenced to 11 years, three months in prison on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “disseminating terrorist propaganda,” according to the court ruling.
Writing on X after the ruling, Demir said, “My sentence was 11 years and three months in prison, without any reduction,” he wrote. “May our people stay safe.”
Human rights groups and defense lawyers have long claimed the case reflects the criminalization of legal work in Kurdish political trials.
For many years rights groups have warned of a systematic crackdown on the legal profession in Turkey as part of a broader effort to suppress political dissent. Lawyers, particularly those representing politically prosecuted individuals or advocating for human rights, have increasingly faced criminal investigations and trials themselves.
“This case is essentially the trial of Kurdish lawyers and the right to a defense,” ÖHD Co-chair Serhat Çakmak said outside the courtroom, accusing the Turkish judicial authorities of punishing professional activities such as prison visits and legal filings.
Turkey convicts Demirta?’s lawyer, jails rights advocates amid renewed peace talks with PKK
