Turkish court upholds jail terms for opposition members

<p>By Filiz Kinik and Ali Cevahir Akturk</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – An Istanbul court on Tuesday upheld prison sentences of two members of opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party's (HDP) members, a judicial source said.</p> <p>According to the sources, former co-chairman of HDP Selahattin Demirtas and former lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder's jail terms have been upheld by the Istanbul regional court's 2nd penal chamber.</p> <p>In September, Demirtas was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison and Onder to three years and six months after they were convicted of &quot;spreading terrorist propaganda.&quot;</p> <p>Lawyers of the opposition members had appealed against the sentences.</p> <p>Around a dozen HDP lawmakers are currently in prison pending trial for terrorism-related offenses after their parliamentary immunity was lifted in May 2016. </p> <p>Turkey's government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK.</p> <p>In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. </p><br>