TURKISH authorities have presented an email received by a Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) official, asking for their support to tackle rape and harassment by Isis, as evidence against the opposition party, a court heard today.

Former HDP executive member Bircan Yorulmaz said she is accused of receiving an email from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria, which prosecutors say is evidence of terrorist activity.

“How can an incoming email be a crime?” she told the Ankara courtroom. “It is a newsletter email just asking for help … how can an email whose content is humane be considered a crime?” she asked.

“It was an email asking for help against harassment and rape by Isis,” said Ms Yorulmaz, against whom a 3,530-page indictment has been filed. 

She is one of 108 former members of the HDP executive facing charges of homicide and disrupting the unity of the state, in the biggest mass trial in Turkish history.

They are accused of responsibility for the deaths of 37 of their own supporters, shot dead by security forces and government-allied paramilitary gangs during street protests in 2014.

Turkish prosecutors blame the HDP for the killings, saying that they released statements calling for people to act against government inaction during the Isis siege of the Syrian city of Kobani.

The trial continues.