Turkey’s top court rules opposition leader Demirtas’s jailing unconstitutional

Source:Middle East Eye Date:20Jun2020

Turkey’s highest court has ruled that the imprisonment of former People’s Democracy Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtas is unconstitutional and has ordered compensation to be paid.

Ankara’s 19th Heavy Penal Court already ruled on 2 September that Demirtas should be released from prison, saying his rights had been violated.

In the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Friday, it upheld that decision, saying that his imprisonment had exceeded a “reasonable duration” and said compensation of 50,000 Turkish lira ($7,289) should be paid to the pro-Kurdish politician.

However, the new ruling does not mean Demirtas will be released from prison, due to a separate investigation and arrest order.