Türkiye sentences former mayor for leading terrorist organisation

Former mayor of Türkiye’s Hakkari city Mehmet Siddik Akis has been sentenced to 19 years and six months in prison for “leading an armed terrorist organisation”.

The trial in which he was listed as a defendant started in 2014, while the verdict was announced at the 61st session of the Hakkari First Criminal Court on June 5, according to TRT Haber.

Akis was accused of membership in a Kurdish terrorist organisation (which is an umbrella organisation over the Kurdistan Workers’ Party - PKK).

During the hearing, pro-Kurdish party lawmakers and other officials were barred from attending the court, citing a 10-day ban on rallies and demonstrations in Hakkari.