Turkish top court approves jail term for opposition HDP leader

The 16th Criminal Office of Supreme Court on Wednesday approved a 10-month imprisonment for the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ for making propaganda for a terrorist organization.

A charge of promoting terrorists, namely the Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP), propaganda against Yüksekdağ relates to a speech she gave during her visit to MLKP terrorist Yasemin Çiftçi's commemoration ceremony in the southern province of Adana in 2012.

The listed terrorist died in a blast of handmade explosives in his house in Istanbul.

Adana Public Prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the incident and demanded up to five years of imprisonment for Yüksekdağ and six others for spreading terror propaganda.

In her statement to the Seventh Penal Court in Adana, Yüskekdağ defended herself saying she did not know that Çiftçi was a member of a terrorist organization.

Following the month-long hearing, the court ordered a 10-month jail term for all seven suspects, including the HDP co-chair.

Then Yüksekdağ applied to the Supreme Court, challenging the local court's decision.

However, the 16th Criminal Office of the Supreme Court approved the sentence, finding her guilty.

Yüksekdağ is also facing jail time of up to 15 years over her terror supporting statement she made last year in the southeastern border town of Suruç.

The charges follow a decision to lift some lawmakers' immunity from prosecution in May.