Indictment prepared against lawyer Fırat Epözdemir, who was arrested in PKK investigation

An indictment has been prepared against lawyer Fırat Epözdemir, who was arrested as part of an investigation into the PKK/KCK terrorist organization. The indictment seeks a prison sentence of 8 years and 6 months to 20 years for the charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization" and "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization."

The indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terrorism Crimes Investigation Bureau, states that it was determined that Epözdemir served as the Bağcılar district head of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), which was established following statements by the armed terrorist organization's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, regarding the possibility of forming an alliance with leftist political groups.

The indictment alleges that Epözdemir took part in the HDK, which was established under the instructions of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization, and adopted its views and ideas. It further states that on September 10, 2015, Epözdemir became a member of a WhatsApp group named "Diren Cizre" (Resist Cizre), which was formed under the instructions of the HDK, and that he went with other members of the group to support the events taking place in Cizre. It was emphasized that a website publishing on behalf of the organization also published content on September 15, 2015, calling for actions to be taken in support of the people of Cizre and the so-called people of Northern Kurdistan.

The indictment claims that after the HDK's statements regarding Cizre, Epözdemir abandoned his own will in favor of the organization's will, carried out the orders and instructions he received, engaged in activities in favor of the terrorist organization, and acted within the organization's hierarchy.

The indictment, which also includes visual evidence, notes that Epözdemir attended an event wearing a scarf in the yellow-red-green colors with a star in the middle, which is the so-called flag of the PKK terrorist organization.

In his statement included in the indictment, Epözdemir claimed that the investigation targeted the bar association because he is a member of the Istanbul Bar Association's board of directors.

Stating that he has no relatives or acquaintances actively operating within the organization, Epözdemir said, "I have not operated within the bar association of lawyers affiliated with the PKK/KCK terrorist organization's KCK-TDÖ social sphere and institutions in any way. We do not claim that the HDK is an illegal structure in any way. Although my position as Bağcılar district head appears, I was a Co-Mayoral Candidate for the Bağcılar Municipality in the 2014 local elections. The reason my candidacy information is in the HDK system is most likely because the BDP was a component of the HDK. Throughout my life, I have never used a weapon, nor have I even bought a toy gun for my children. I am someone who constantly argues that problems cannot be solved with weapons and violence. Having any connection with an illegal organization is contrary to my way of life."

The indictment requests that Epözdemir be sentenced to 8 years and 6 months to 20 years in prison for the charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization" and "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization."

The High Criminal Court's review of the indictment is ongoing.

News Source: AA