Turkish mayor faces trial over terror propaganda

AĞRI – Anadolu Agency

DHA photo

An indictment has been prepared against a provincial mayor on charges of “promoting terrorism on social media,” according to a court statement.

Sırrı Sakık, the mayor for the eastern province of Ağrı, will face a jail sentence for posting comments on Twitter “encouraging and praising the terror of the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK and its affiliate, the Kurdish Communities Union [KCK], against the Turkish government.”

According to the Ağrı Criminal Court, Sakık, who stood for the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in the March 2014 election, faces up to seven-and-a-half years in prison and a ban on political activity if convicted. A trial is due to take place on Dec. 10.

The indictment was prepared after a criminal complaint was filed by a member of the public.

In a series of tweets posted between Aug. 19 and 22, Sakık said the “Kurds have been fighting for their freedom.”

Referring to his forthcoming trial, Sakık told journalists: “This war will not last forever. If it will solve the problems, my punishment, my body, shall be dedicated to Ağrı and peace.”