A Turkish court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by jailed pro-Kurdish party politician Selahattin Demirtaş against his conviction for "terrorist propaganda", his lawyer said. Former legislator Sirri Sureyya Önder's conviction on the same charge and three-year prison sentence were also upheld.
Turkey's official Anadolu news agency said Tuesday the appeals court unanimously voted to finalize a September verdict against Demirtaş. The former co-chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for a 2013 speech that the court deemed was in support of outlawed Kurdish PKK militants.
The decision follows a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on November 20 that called on Turkey to release Demirtas.
Last month, the ECHR said Turkey violated Demirtaş' rights to a speedy trial and free elections and ordered Turkey to free him after more than two years in pre-trial detention. A Turkish court rejected his application for his release. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has rejected the European court ruling.
He has been held since November 2016 pending his trial on charges including managing a "terrorist organisation" and "inciting others to commit crimes". He could be jailed for 142 years if he is found guilty.
