Turkish court upholds jail terms for opposition members

By Filiz Kinik and Ali Cevahir Akturk

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court on Tuesday upheld prison sentences of two members of opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party's (HDP) members, a judicial source said.

According to the sources, former co-chairman of HDP Selahattin Demirtas and former lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder's jail terms have been upheld by the Istanbul regional court's 2nd penal chamber.

In September, Demirtas was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison and Onder to three years and six months after they were convicted of "spreading terrorist propaganda."

Lawyers of the opposition members had appealed against the sentences.

Around a dozen HDP lawmakers are currently in prison pending trial for terrorism-related offenses after their parliamentary immunity was lifted in May 2016.

Turkey's government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.