28.07.2025 14:39
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation stated that the 1 year, 5 months, and 15 days prison sentence received by Nurullah Efe, the Chairman of the People's Liberation Party, for the crime of "insulting the President" has been finalized, and announced that Efe's founding membership, party membership, and managerial position have ended.
HKP filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Interior Minister Efkan Ala, and MIT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, claiming they committed "war crimes" related to the ammunition sent to armed groups in Syria via the MIT trucks that were stopped in Adana and Hatay in 2014. Following the complaint, a lawsuit was filed against HKP Leader Nurullah Efe for allegedly insulting Erdoğan and other officials. In this case, he received a prison sentence of 1 year, 2 months, and 22 days.
NURULLAH EFE'S 1 YEAR 5 MONTH SENTENCE HAS BECOME FINAL
However, the Court of Cassation ruled that due to Erdoğan being the President at the time of the incident, the trial should be conducted under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code for the charge of "insulting the President," thereby overturning the previous decision. Following this ruling, the case was reopened. The Ankara 5th Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced Nurullah Efe to 1 year and 9 months in prison for the charge of "insulting the President" during the ruling hearing on October 18, 2023. The Court of Cassation reduced the sentence to 1 year, 5 months, and 15 days, finalizing the ruling.
COURT OF CASSATION: THE CHAIRMANSHIP HAS ENDED
In a letter sent by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation to the HKP General Center, it was stated that this conviction constitutes an obstacle to party membership under Article 11 of the Political Parties Law No. 2820, and it was reported that Efe's founding membership, membership, and consequently his chairmanship have ended. The letter included the following statements:
"It has been understood that Nurullah Efe, who was elected as the Chairman at the 6th Ordinary Congress held on June 15, 2025, has been convicted by the Ankara 5th Criminal Court of First Instance with the ruling dated October 18, 2023, and numbered 2021/776 (case) and 2023/1192 (decision); it has been seen that the mentioned conviction decision constitutes an obstacle to political party membership under Article 11 of the Political Parties Law No. 2820. Therefore, the individual's founding membership, membership, and related duties in the party organs have been terminated and recorded in your party's registry."
According to the information obtained, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also revoked the membership and management of Erdal Kopal, who was elected as a member of the MYK at the congress held on June 15, due to the finalization of his 11 months and 20 days prison sentence.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Nurullah Efe had previously been tried on similar charges and had received a total of 14 years, 7 months, and 5 days of prison sentences and a political ban as a result of those trials. The mentioned sentences are still being evaluated at the appellate stage. On the other hand, in other ongoing cases against Efe, a total of 51 years and 4 months of prison sentences are being sought.