MLSA - Turkish singer and activist Pınar Aydınlar was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison on charges of “membership in an armed terrorist organization,” in a case based on her social media posts and alleged links to the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), a legally recognized civil platform in Turkey. The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court issued the verdict on Monday, rejecting the prosecutor's initial demand that she be convicted of “terrorist propaganda” instead.
Aydınlar had been detained as part of an investigation into the HDK and was tried over posts on her social media accounts. The court proceedings, which were scheduled to begin at 11:10 a.m., started with a 40-minute delay due to a backlog of hearings, all held in the same courtroom.
During the hearing, the prosecutor reiterated the final opinion presented at an earlier session, seeking punishment for “propagandizing for a terrorist organization.” However, the court chose to convict Aydınlar on the more severe charge of membership under Article 314/2 of the Turkish Penal Code, which pertains to armed groups.
“This was not detention, it was trauma”
In her defense statement, Aydınlar described her arrest as violent and traumatizing, saying armed police raided the home where she lived with her children. “I was thrown to the ground with a gun pointed at my head. My daughter was forced to undress in front of the cameras. This was not a detention—it was a traumatic assault,” she said.
Aydınlar explained that the investigation was linked to her alleged involvement in the HDK. “Being a member of the HDK is not a crime. It’s a legal structure. I’m not a member, but even if I were, I wouldn’t deny it,” she said.
She denied making propaganda in her social media posts and rejected the allegations. One of the posts cited as evidence was a retweet, not her original writing. Describing herself as a socialist artist who stands with “the oppressed, workers, and victims of injustice,” she added, “As someone who performs concerts in Europe, I report to the police station every month and travel abroad the next day. If I had any intention of fleeing, I would never have returned from abroad.”
She requested the lifting of judicial control measures and called for her acquittal.
Defense cites human rights court rulings
Her lawyer, Fırat Alan Ayıldız, cited rulings by the European Court of Human Rights and Turkey’s Constitutional Court, arguing that Aydınlar’s statements fell within the scope of freedom of expression and should not be criminalized.
Court imposes harsher charge than prosecutor requested
In an unusual move, the court imposed a harsher sentence than what the prosecution requested. While the prosecutor sought a conviction for “terrorist propaganda,” the panel of judges ruled that Aydınlar should be sentenced under the more serious charge of “membership in an armed terrorist organization.”
She was initially sentenced to 5 years in prison. That sentence was increased to 7 years and 6 months under Turkey’s Anti-Terror Law. Taking into account her conduct during the trial, the court applied a sentence reduction and handed down a final sentence of 6 years and 3 months.
Background
Pınar Aydınlar is a well-known folk singer and political activist in Turkey. She has previously run for office under the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and has faced legal pressure for her political stance and public performances. Turkey has faced criticism from international human rights organizations for prosecuting artists, journalists, and opposition politicians under broad anti-terror laws, often citing social media posts or public speeches as evidence.
