Turkish court sentences jailed Kurdish Leader to additional prison time for insulting Erdogan

ANKARA — A Turkish court in Mersin on Tuesday sentenced imprisoned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas to one year, five months, and 15 days in prison for "chain insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his lawyer confirmed.

The verdict stems from speeches Demirtas delivered in 2015, adding to the former pro-Kurdish party leader's lengthy incarceration despite repeated calls from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) for his release.

The case, which had been adjourned to January 6 after a prosecutor's demand for up to seven years in November 2025, centered on remarks made during election rallies in Mersin and Diyarbakır.

Prosecutors alleged that Demirtas's accusations—claiming Erdogan and then-Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu supported militant groups like ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and Ahrar al-Sham—constituted insults under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Demirtas, who did not attend the hearing, has been detained since November 2016. He is already serving a 42-year sentence handed down in May 2024 for his alleged role in the 2014 Kobani protests, alongside prior convictions including a 3.5-year term in 2021 for insulting the president in a separate case.

The new sentence comes amid ongoing international pressure. The ECtHR has issued multiple binding rulings—in 2018, 2020, and most recently finalized in November 2025—finding Demirtas's detention politically motivated to stifle pluralism and violate his rights to liberty, expression, and political participation. The court has repeatedly ordered his immediate release, criticisms that Turkish authorities have historically disregarded.

In late 2025, signals from President Erdogan's allies, including Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli, suggested a potential release as part of broader Kurdish peace efforts. However, Tuesday's ruling appears to complicate any immediate prospects.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and PEN International, have condemned Demirtas's prolonged imprisonment as unjust, noting that thousands have faced similar "insult" charges under Article 299, often seen as a tool to suppress dissent.

The 52-year-old former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)—now succeeded by the DEM Party—rose to prominence as a charismatic advocate for Kurdish rights and leftist causes. He challenged Erdogan in the 2014 and 2018 presidential elections, campaigning from prison in the latter and securing over 8% of the vote.

Critics argue that Demirtas's trials reflect a broader crackdown on opposition following the collapse of peace talks with the PKK and the 2016 failed coup attempt. Supporters view him as a symbol of democratic resistance.

As Turkey navigates renewed discussions on resolving its Kurdish issue, the latest conviction underscores persistent tensions between judicial actions and international obligations. Demirtas's legal team is expected to appeal, while advocates renew demands for compliance with ECtHR judgments.