DİYARBAKIR - TJA activist Fatma Gül was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" for her activities within the TJA, KJA and DTK.

Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activist Gül has been charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization" related to her involvement with TJA, Free Women's Congress (KJA) and Democratic Society Congress (DTK). The verdict hearing was held in Diyarbakir province on Friday.

While Gül attended the hearing at the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court via Video Conferencing System (SEGBİS) from the Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison where she is detained, her lawyers Bahar Oktay, Feride Yalçın and Şivan Cemil Özen were present at the court.

The prosecutor, presenting his opinion to the court, demanded that Gül be sentenced to from 7,5 to 15 years in prison for "being a member of an organization", citing her activities within TJA, KJA and DTK, based on the statements of open and anonymous witnesses.

Gül, who made her defense in Kurdish through a translator, disagreed with the prosecutor's opinion and denied the accusations. Gül said that she did not accept the anonymous and open witness statements which she described as defamation. Gül stated that she is a woman activist engaging in women's struggle within DTK, TJA and KJA. Demanding her release, Gül stated that her health and detention period should be taken into account.

The attorneys of Gül, who defended against the opinion, stated that they did not agree with the opinion, that the KJA and TJA in question were also women's associations and that their client was working as a women's activist in these associations. The attorneys said that DTK is a civil platform within which many non-governmental organizations are working.

After a short break, the court ruled that Gül be sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for "membership of a terrorist organization" and her detention be continued.