Turkish lawmaker jailed for PKK links

By Aziz Aslan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) – A Turkish lawmaker was sentenced Friday to over four years in prison for crimes linked to the PKK.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakir member of parliament Nursel Aydogan was sentenced to four years eight months in prison by Diyarbakir's 2nd High Penal Court in southeast Turkey.

Aydogan had stood trial on charges of conducting activities on behalf of a terrorist organization without being a member.

The lawmaker had denied the charges and had responded to accusations of her attendance at the funeral of a PKK terrorist.

"I am a lawmaker. I have to obey the decisions of the general board of my party," she had said.

In November 2016, Aydogan, along with several other lawmakers from the HDP, were arrested for failing to answer a counter-terrorism investigation summons.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier in 2016.

Lawmakers from other parties had also been summoned before public prosecutors but only HDP deputies refused to testify.