HAYRİ DEMİR
The case against former HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) MP Nusrettin Maçin, related to his speech at the 2018 Newroz celebration, was transferred from Ankara to Diyarbakır due to jurisdictional issues during its first hearing.
Maçin, the former HDP MP from Şanlıurfa, was scheduled to attend the hearing at Ankara 2nd High Criminal Court via the Audio-Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from Diyarbakır. However, he was unable to participate due to the unavailability of a SEGBİS room at the courthouse.
During the hearing, Maçin’s lawyer, Nurdan Kılıç, was present. The prosecution argued for the transfer of the case to Diyarbakır, citing that the speech in question took place there.
Attorney Nurdan Kılıç, responding to the prosecution's argument, stated that Maçin's speech in January 2018 addressed the civilian casualties during Turkey's military operation in Afrin. Kılıç asserted that the speech did not contain any content that could be considered “terrorist propaganda” and requested immediate acquittal.
The court ruled in favor of the prosecution's request, transferring the case to Diyarbakır on jurisdictional grounds.
From the indictment: Speech deemed dangerous to public order
The investigation into Maçin's speech was initially halted when he was elected as an MP in June 2018. However, after failing to secure re-election in the June 2023 elections, the investigation was resumed by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Parliamentary Bureau. The indictment, prepared in February 2024, accused Maçin of praising and glorifying members of a terrorist organization, presenting them as innocent to national and international audiences, and using expressions that posed a clear and imminent danger to public order. The prosecution called for his punishment based on these charges.
