News Center- After the verdict in the Kobanê Trial was announced on May 16, the Solidarity Initiative for Figen Yüksekdağ was formed.

“The verdict in the years-long conspiracy trial, also known as the Kobanê Trial against politicians, including former HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ who were arrested on November 4, 2016, was announced and the politicians received long prison sentences,” the initiative said in a written statement on Friday.

The initiative called on the international community to “take a stand against this injustice”, emphasizing that the politicians had fulfilled their historical responsibilities. The written statement is as follows:

“The politicians have been sentenced to long prison sentences for fulfilling their responsibilities for the resistance against the genocidal attacks of ISIS in Kobanê in October 2014, for standing by democracy and the freedom of people against the atrocity of ISIS and calling for solidarity with the people of Kobanê. They fulfilled their responsibilities as human beings and politicians.

The hearts of all progressive and democratic people were beating with the rhythm of resistance of Kobanê against the atrocity of ISIS. This rhythm mobilized hundreds of thousands of people all around the world to go to Kobanê to fight ISIS. ISIS committed unprecedented crimes against humanity in Kobanê. But it was defeated.

The Kobanê Trial was an unjust political trial reflecting the arbitrary practices of the Erdoğan regime. The verdict in this trial shows that the judiciary in Türkiye is a tool of political power.

The Kobanê Trial an attack on people's freedom, democracy and justice, women's equality and all the values defended by the HDP.

We do not accept the prison sentences given to the politicians and demand their immediate release. We call on the democratic international community to take a stand against this injustice.

As former HDP Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ says: Resisting people get the last word, both yesterday and today.”