A Turkish court on Thursday sentenced dozens pro-Kurdish politicians to between nine and 30 years in prison over deadly riots in 2014 by Kurds were angered by what they perceived to be government inaction against the so-called Islamic State, or IS.
The incident occurred during IS’s siege of the Syrian border town of Kobanî.
The three days of clashes that broke out in October 2014 resulted in 37 deaths and left hundreds of others injured, including both police and civilians.
The protests were rallied by leaders of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, or HDP, who were frustrated by what they considered to be Turkish authorities’ support for IS militants.
A total of 108 people were put on trial charged with various crimes, including the killings of the 37 victims and crimes against the integrity of the state.
Among the defendants were HDP’s jailed former leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, who were accused of organising the protests and of inciting violence.
