Medine Mamedoğlu
Diyarbakır - The hearing took place at the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court but began two hours later than scheduled. Tanrıkulu and her lawyers were present in the courtroom. Representatives from the Human Rights Association (İHD), including co-chairs Oya Ersoy and Cihan Aydın, as well as members from the Diyarbakır and Mardin branches, former Kızıltepe mayor Ferhan Türk, and representatives from the 78’ers Initiative also attended.
In her defense statement, Tanrıkulu said she was repeating her previous statements. She said she did not recall whether she had attended the Newroz celebration, and added that even if she had, incidents such as Molotov cocktails allegedly being thrown, as stated in the indictment, had not occurred.
“I am a human rights defender and have worked in the field for many years. Associating this with membership in an organization is not correct, and I do not accept it,” she said. “Moreover, the definition of ‘terror’ varies greatly in this geography—what will we call terrorism and what will we not? This charge only criminalizes our struggle. In that sense, the filing of this case shows the point the law has reached. I do not accept the accusations and request my acquittal in all respects.”
Her lawyer, Eren Keskin, recalled that a previous investigation into her client had resulted in a decision of non-prosecution. “There is nothing here, yet what is being tried is the state of being Kurdish,” Keskin said. “Our client is a human rights defender and a feminist. When it became clear that no sentence could be given in the file in Istanbul, it was sent here. The continuation of this case is meaningless; we request acquittal.”
Another lawyer, Cebbar Leygara, said he agreed with these statements and added that they would present their main defense statements after the evaluation of the merged case file sent from Istanbul.
The court panel adjourned the hearing to 11:00 a.m. on May 22 to rule on the file sent from Istanbul.
Background
An investigation was initially launched against Tanrıkulu on allegations of “membership in an organization” and “participation in unlawful meetings and marches” on the grounds that she attended Newroz celebrations held on March 18, 2012, which had been banned by the Diyarbakır Governor’s Office. A decision of non-prosecution was issued in that investigation in 2012.
However, in 2018, a new investigation was launched over the same Newroz event on the charge of “membership in an organization,” and an indictment was prepared. Due to the prior non-prosecution decision regarding the same incident, a ruling to halt proceedings was issued on June 6, 2023.
Following an objection by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Diyarbakır Criminal Judgeship of Peace ruled on Nov. 17, 2025, to overturn those decisions. Subsequently, the indictment prepared afterward was accepted, and a case was filed against Tanrıkulu.
