COLEMÊRG - Colemêrg Municipality Co-Mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was replaced by a trustee, was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

 

The final hearing of the case filed against Colemêrg (Hakkari) Municipality Co-mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior on June 3 and replaced by a trustee, on the grounds of "committing a crime on behalf of the terror organization without being a member" and "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations" was held.

 

Akış, who is being held in Van High Security Closed Prison, attended the hearing held at the Hakkari 1st High Criminal Court via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). Akış's lawyers and relatives were also present at the hearing.

 

In his opinion, the prosecutor claimed that Akış participated in the marches upon the call of the terror organization. The prosecutor claimed that participating in the "Freedom March", which was initiated to demand the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, was also a crime. The prosecutor demanded punishment for Akış.

 

Akış, who made his defense at the hearing, said that the only reason for the investigation and prosecution was to appoint a trustee. Drawing attention to the fact that government was disturbed by his mention of the İmralı isolation, Akış reminded that Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli also mentioned isolation and said: "This situation is double standards. Isolation, war and alienation should not exist. The President said, 'they alienated and oppressed' on the 101st anniversary of the foundation of the republic. We said the same things. When the head of state says it, it is not a crime, but when we say it, why is it a crime? I used my right to criticize in my speech."

 

9 YEARS IN PRISON

 

The court announced its decision after the lawyers' defense and sentenced Akış to 7 years and 6 months in prison for "committing a crime on behalf of the terror organization while not being a member of the organization" and 1 year and 6 months in prison for "violating the law on meetings and demonstrations."