Facing prison and political ban: Date set for Kılıçdaroğlu's court appearance

An indictment has been prepared against former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu by the Parliamentary Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The indictment states that the investigation into Kılıçdaroğlu was initiated following a complaint petition filed on February 5, 2020, by MHP Deputy Chairmen Feti Yıldız, İzzet Ulvi Yönter, and İsmail Faruk Aksu.

The complaint petition included in the indictment alleges that Kılıçdaroğlu praised Selahattin Demirtaş, who was tried and sentenced to 4 years and 8 months in prison for 'propagating for the PKK terrorist organization' at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court, for crimes that have been proven. The petition also noted that Kılıçdaroğlu said during an interview at the Istanbul University International Relations Club on October 21, 2014, "The YPG is not a terrorist organization for us. The YPG is an organization formed to save its own homeland," and stated, "With this statement, Kılıçdaroğlu has clearly declared that he views the YPG as independence and freedom fighters."

3 YEARS OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS EXAMINED

In the complaint petition filed by Yıldız, Yönter, and Aksu, it was claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu "praised members of the FETÖ and PKK terrorist organizations" in his social media posts and speeches between 2016 and 2019.

The indictment also included a petition from Kılıçdaroğlu's lawyer, Celal Çelik. In the defense petition, it was argued that the statements subject to the investigation against Kılıçdaroğlu were in the nature of political assessments made within the framework of personal opinion, and therefore it was requested that a decision of non-prosecution be made regarding the suspect.

UP TO 3.5 YEARS IN PRISON AND POLITICAL BAN

The indictment stated, "It is understood that the elements of the charged crime of 'praising crime and criminals in a chain manner' have been established, as the suspect's statements are of a nature capable of disrupting public order and are in conditions that create a clear, imminent, and concrete danger to the peace and order of society," and requested that Kılıçdaroğlu be sentenced to 2.5 to 3.5 years in prison and a political ban for the crime of 'praising crime and criminals in a chain manner'.

The indictment was accepted by the Ankara 35th High Criminal Court. The court decided that the first hearing of the case will be held on December 3.

News Source: 12punto