LEADING communist Selma Gurkan faces a lengthy jail sentence for making anti-war statements as the Turkish state seeks to criminalise all forms of opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian rule.

The Labour Party of Turkey (Emep) general secretary faces more than seven years in prison for “spreading terrorist propaganda” after speaking out against Operation Olive Branch, Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of the peaceful city of Afrin in northern Syria.

Ms Gurkan’s case was heard in an Istanbul court today. Prosecutor Hakan Ozer was seeking a jail sentence, alleging that her speech outside the hearing of two Emep members, Neslihan Karyemez and Bilal Karaman, in February 2018 created a “negative perception” of the Afrin operation.