Siirt’s Co-Mayor Sofya Alağaş from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The verdict was delivered on Jan. 28 during the seventh hearing of her trial in Diyarbakır, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups and press freedom advocates.
Political Fallout and Alağaş’s Response
Speaking outside the Diyarbakır Courthouse, Alağaş—who was not present at the hearing—condemned the ruling as “an attack on the will of the Kurdish people.” She accused the Turkish state of targeting Kurdish politicians and journalists, stating:
“We didn’t give up yesterday, we didn’t give up today, and we won’t give up tomorrow. This court has once again confirmed the state’s hostility toward Kurds.”
Alağaş also claimed that the trial was “expedited” to secure a conviction, adding:
“There were incomplete files and investigations that should have been merged, but the court disregarded all of this, sped up the process, and issued its ruling.”
She further accused authorities of suppressing Kurdish journalism, stating:
“You refuse to recognize Kurdish journalists, dismiss them, and then say, ‘We’ll live together in this country.’ How is that possible? We are living in a big lie.”
Origins of the Case and Allegations of Political Interference
The charges against Alağaş stem from a 2022 investigation targeting 15 Kurdish journalists, including staff from Mezopotamya News Agency and Jin News. The case accused them of links to outlawed groups, an allegation frequently used against Kurdish journalists in Turkey.
Alağaş was arrested in 2022 and spent one year in prison before being released following her first hearing. However, her case was later separated from the other journalists, leading to allegations of political interference.
Her lawyers challenged the prosecution’s arguments, stating that the case was entirely based on her journalistic activities rather than any credible criminal evidence. One of her lawyers emphasized that the legal process was manipulated for political purposes, citing procedural irregularities:
“Up until the previous hearing, the case was proceeding normally. The withdrawal of certain decisions and the hearing of a secret witness during the sixth session indicate political intervention.”
Electoral Context and Broader Implications
Alağaş was elected as Siirt’s co-mayor in the 2024 local elections, securing 49.63% of the vote. Her closest competitor, the candidate from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), received 37.13%.
Her conviction has raised concerns that the government may attempt to remove her from office, a practice frequently applied to pro-Kurdish mayors in previous years, where elected officials were replaced by state-appointed trustees.
This case has reignited debates on press freedom, judicial independence, and the rights of Kurdish politicians in Turkey, with rights groups warning that the judiciary is being used as a tool to silence opposition voices.