Former Lawyer of Abdullah Ocalan, Dogan Erbaş, Released After Turkish High Court Overturns Sentence
Turkey releases former lawyer of Ocalan and ex-HDP official Erbaş as court overturns 15-year sentence. Comes amid Erdogan's push for new civilian constitution and peace talks with DEM Party, signaling shifting political landscape in 'Terror-Free Turkey' initiative.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Dogan Erbaş, former lawyer of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan and former head of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul branch, has been released after Turkey’s Supreme Court annulled his 15-year prison sentence.
Erbaş had been imprisoned since June 2023 following charges of “PKK membership” and “promoting an illegal organization” during his time as HDP’s Istanbul chair. He was initially convicted by the Istanbul High Criminal Court, which sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
After the case was appealed, Turkey’s Supreme Court overturned the ruling and returned the file for re-evaluation. In today’s session, the Istanbul High Criminal Court decided to release Erbaş. A new trial session is scheduled for October 23.
The development comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan renews his government’s push to replace the 1982 military-era constitution with a civilian and democratic charter. Speaking on his return from the NATO Leaders’ Summit in The Hague, Erdoğan emphasized that it was time for the Turkish people to rid themselves of a constitution “imposed by the military.”
He confirmed that a parliamentary commission has begun outlining principles for a new constitution, calling for broader consensus, especially with the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). As part of the broader national initiative “Terror-Free Türkiye,” Erdoğan also confirmed upcoming talks with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, stating that the government aims to carry the process forward “with patience and sincerity.”
The release of Erbaş, a figure long associated with Kurdish political and legal circles, marks a significant moment within this evolving peace proses in Turkey.
