Jail Term for Baydemir Reversed

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The jail term of 1 year and 5.5 months imposed on Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa MP Osman Baydemir has been reversed by Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice on the ground that “there might be contrarieties to law”.

Baydemir had received the sentence by Diyarbakır 4th Criminal Court of First Instance on the ground of having insulted police officers in front of Diyarbakır Governorship on November 3, 2012 as he was Diyarbakır Mayor.

Examining Baydemir’s appeal, Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice ruled that there might be contrarieties in the verdict rendered for Baydemir and a new trial is needed.

Detention warrant was issued

A detention warrant was issued on May 30, 2017 for Baydemir for “not attending the hearings”.

On the same day, speaking at the HDP’s weekly group meeting, Baydemir said, “There must be someone running away in order to have a warrant issued. I conduct political activity. I stand by my words, thus there is no running away”.

Baydemir was detained  on :June 2, 2017 and released following the deposition. (EKN/TK)