Turkey begins trial of pro-Kurdish politicians over Kobani protest

Turkey is pushing ahead with a trial against opposition lawmakers despite an international outcry. Germany's human rights commissioner has reiterated calls for the release of former HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas.

A Turkish court has begun a trial against 108 individuals, many of whom are lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), including former co-leader Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yüksekdag.

The case — which has been highly criticized as politically motivated — revolves around protests in October 2014 against the Turkish government's lack of action regarding the siege of the Syrian city of Kobani by "Islamic State." Some 37 people were killed after the demonstrations turned violent.

The defendants are facing 29 different criminal charges, including attempted murder, spreading terrorist propaganda and instigating violence against the Turkish state. The prosecution is seeking a total of 19,680 years in jail — they are seeking life sentences for 38 of the accused.

Turkey is 'meddling' with democracy

The German government's Human Rights Commissioner Bärbel Kofler called the trial an attack on democracy in comments to the Agence FrancePresse on Monday.

"Whoever tries to criminalize political expression, is meddling with the fundamentals of democracy," she said.

Kofler said she would keep an eye on proceedings and called for the release of HDP co-leader Demirtas, in accordance with a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

"The harsh crackdown by Turkish authorities, repeatedly criticized on the international level, on the HDP and its members, fuels doubt that today's trial in Ankara is a suitable way of addressing the tragic events in relation to the so-called Kobani

The defendants, including Demirtas (left) and Yuksekdag (right), are facing 29 different criminal charges

Selahattin Demirtas has been in jail since November 2016