Demirtaş was sentenced to 4 years, 8 months , Önder to 3 -and- a-half years

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The trial of Salahuddin Demirtaş and Süreyya Önder, imprisoned in the Turkish prison of Edirne, was held at Istanbul's Grand Criminal Court for the 26th  time. Saladin Demirtaş took part in the court hearing via "SEGBÎS", the audio and video, while Önder was in court.

Lawyers from the Swiss and Canadian Consulates and from the London Bar followed the hearing together with a number of lawyers from the Freedom of Jurists Platform (ÖHP). HDP deputies Dilşad Canbaz, Züleyha Gülüm, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Tuma Çelik and many people also attended the hearing. 

Demirtaş, who spoke first, stated that he was notified 2 days ago and that he had defended in Bakırköy 2nd Heavy Penal Court against the indictment. 

Demirtaş was allowed to defend himself after a vote by the judges. 

The former HDP co-chair said:

"There are two reasons why I joined via SEGBIS today’s hearing. The first reason is that I do not travel through the ring, I have some trouble because of the health problem. The second reason is that you left me with the discretion of participating in person or via SEGBIS in the notice you made. It is illegal to be judged via SEGBIS, but today is my choice.

Until today, you have not accepted a single appeal from me and my lawyers. - the former HDP co-chair said - If our requests had been heard, this trial would have ended already”. 

Demirtaş ended his speech by saying, “You have already judged me without even reading the file. You have tried me and Önder for two speeches. The speeches we made are in the file. The sentence in the indictment is wrong. I do not accept that wrong sentence as a crime”.

 A.H

ANHA