The trial of Nihat Aşut, who was arrested on March 12, 2025, on charges of conducting activities on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the German cities of Kiel and Lübeck, and a Kurdish activist who is being tried without detention, has been ongoing at the Hamburg High Criminal Court since September. Both Kurds are being tried under Article 129b of the German Criminal Code. Nihat Aşut was released on parole in October.
At today’s hearing, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s February 27 “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” was read out by the presiding judge, following a motion filed by lawyer, Dr. Björn Elberling.
Lawyer Dr. Björn Elberling had requested new evidence for the current peace process in Turkey to be taken into account.
The purpose of the request was to demonstrate that the peace process was being pursued seriously and without hesitation by the Kurdish side.
Öcalan has explicitly announced the end of the armed struggle as a means of conflict, the lawyer underlined.
In addition to Öcalan’s call, the PKK’s declaration of a ceasefire, its decision to dissolve in May, its weapon-burning ceremony, and its withdrawal of its armed forces were also recalled during the hearing on Saturday. Information and documents regarding the Turkish state’s involvement in the process were also presented.
The trial has been followed closely by the public, particularly by people from Kiel and Lübeck. Among today’s spectators were the family of Konstantin Gedik, a German internationalist who was martyred in Serêkaniyê in 2019.
The next hearing will take place on December 2 at the Hamburg Regional Court. The verdict is expected to be announced by the end of this year.