ANKARA - The second hearing of the Kobanê Trial, in which 28 arrested politicians, including HDP executives, are on trial is being held today. The hearing started with the defence of KJA President Ayla Akat Ata. 

 

The second hearing of Kobané Case against 108 people, 28 of whom are currently behind bars continues on its second day. The hearing held in Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court started in the Sincan Prison Campus. Experts from the Turkey Delegation of the European Union (EU) and diplomatic represantatives of EU member states are following the hearing.

 

HDP CO-CHAIR SANCAR IN COURT ROOM

 

Hundreds of lawyers are ready in court to defend the politicians. HDP Co-chair Mithat Sancar, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) CO-Chair Berdan Öztürk and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-chairs Saliha Aydeniz and Keskin Bayındır are observing the hearing as well as a number of HDP MPs, provincial and district co-chairs and women's organizations.

 

'BOMB SEARCH'

 

Lawyers and journalists were kept waiting at the door on grounds that there was a search for a bomb in the court room. 

 

Former HDP Co-Chairperson Selahattin Demirtaş did not attend the hearing to prepare for his trial on May. Former HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ, İmralı Delegation member Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Gültan Kışanak and Zeynep Ölbeci are attending the hearing via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

 

TUNCEL IS IN THE COURT ROOM

 

Former Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Sebahat Tuncel, former KJA spokesperson Ayla Akat Ata, Emine Beyza Üstün, Pervin Oduncu, Ayşe Bağcı, Sibel Akdeniz, Bircan Yorulmaz, Berfin Özgü Köse are present at the courtroom.

 

ATA STARTED HER DEFENCE

 

Ayla Akat Ata, who started her defense, stated that Neslihan Çoban, her colleague from the Rosa Women's Association, lost her son in the Kobanê protests and said, “In 2012, we campaigned under the roof of the parliament for the legal status of the Right to Defense in Mother Tongue. Arrangements were made based on Lausanne. I wanted make my defence with the Zazaki dialect of Kurdish, but we could not educate ourselves in our mother tongue due to the assimilation policies. "Since I cannot make my defence with my mother language, Zazaki, I want to start my defense by apologizing to every member of our people."