ANKARA - Stating that there is no concrete evidence in the Kobanê Case indictment, DBP's former Co-Chair Emine Ayna said, "The evidence in the indictment is that I demanded freedom for Öcalan. Who did I kill by demanding freedom for Öcalan?"

 

9th session of the 3rd hearing of the Kobanê Case, where 108 people, including the former Co-Chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), members of the Central Executive Board (MYK) and executives, 24 of whom were detained are on trial was held today in Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court. HDP MPs and many people are at court monitoring the hearing. 

 

'KURDISH QUESTION WAS DROPPED IN YOUR LAP'

 

Former Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Emine Ayna took the floor to defend the merits of the case. Ayna said, “I think the Kurdish issue has been dropped in your lap. This hearing is an historical document on the solution to the Kurdish question and the question itself. I saw the word 'ideology' made look like a crime in this indictment. It is not. Ideology is the way a person choses to live their lives. Having an ideology is not wrong. The indictment also includes my speeches about Öcalan's freedom and the demand for democratic autonomy."

 

'I AM HERE FOR MY IDEAS'

 

Emphasizing that the demand for autonomy is a demand included in the bylaws of both the DBP and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Ayna said, “This demand, as in all political parties, is the bylaws approved by the state in the DBP and BDP. The politician has a responsibility to organize thought. It is imperative to organize this in political parties. They do this through rallies, speeches, and writing. I am here because I have expressed my thoughts, because I have organized my thoughts in accordance with the charter of my party. This indictment does not include a shred of an evidence against us. It consists of my speeches."

 

'WHO DID I KILL?'

 

Noting that nothing other than the political activities of a party has been discussed since the beginning of the trial, Ayna said the following regarding the accusations in the indictment: “We are held responsible for the deaths of 37 people. What is the evidence for this? How did I kill these people? Who witnessed the murders? None of these questions are answered by the indictment. The only evidence in the indictment is that I demanded justice for Öcalan and demanded democratic autonomy. How did I kill 37 people by demanding these?"

 

EMPHASIS ON PEACE

 

Speaking about the ANF news in the indictment, Ayna said, “The speech I gave on the death anniversary of the 3 female politicians murdered in Paris was taken from the ANF. And not all of it. They only picked two sentences of my speech. I said: "We will celebrate when Öcalan is free and Peace is achieved." Where is the call for violence there? On the contrary, I emphasized the need for faith in peace."

 

Ayna said that the other speeches included in the indictment also had an emphasis on peace, so it did not constitute a crime.

 

The hearing was adjourned for an hour and a half.