Turkish Court Sentences Kurdish Leaders to Decades in Prison for 2014 Protests

Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag convicted of inciting deadly riots; defense decries trial as political revenge.

Selahattin Demirtas sentenced to 42 years, Figen Yuksekdag to 30 years for alleged roles in 2014 riots.
The 2014 protests were sparked by perceived Turkish inaction during an IS attack on Kobani, Syria.
Defense lawyers and critics argue the trial is a politically motivated crackdown on Kurdish political movements.
The HDP, accused of ties to the PKK, has rebranded as the DEM Party, now the third-largest in Turkey's parliament.
The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly called for Demirtas's release, citing political motives.