News Center- the 61st hearing of the trial filed in 2014 against Hakkari Co-mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was removed from office and replaced with a state-appointed trustee, was held on Wednesday at the Hakkari 1st High Criminal Court.

 The Hakkari Courthouse was blockaded by the police before and after the hearing. People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) MPs and Provincial Co-chairs were prevented from entering the courthouse by police. Police officers told the lawyers that they could only allow six lawyers to enter the courthouse to monitor the hearing  not others lawyers on the ground that their names were not on the list. After the meetings with police, lawyers were allowed to enter the courtroom.

“I am 53 years old. I have been struggling for years and I will continue to struggle. I heard the news claiming that I had been fleeing. I have never attempted to flee. I stand by what I have said. I did what I had to do politically. I said ‘peace’, ‘fraternity’, ‘justice’, ‘equality’  and ‘freedom’. I still say them. I have built my whole life around these and I will continue to do so from now on. I am not afraid of being arrested or being held in prison. I request a new indictment to be prepared. I do not want to be tried with an indictment prepared by a pro-FETÖ prosecutor. I do not demand my release or my acquittal from you just be just.”

After a short break, the court sentenced Mehmet Sıddık Akış to nine years and six months in prison on charges of “membership in an illegal organization.”