On January 26, 2026, the Piraeus court sentenced Turkish revolutionary activist Halil Demir to four and a half years in prison following a summary trial marked by a flagrant violation of the right to a fair trial. Despite the unavailability of his lawyer, the court refused to postpone the hearing and to appoint a court-appointed lawyer, leading to a conviction without a defense, without the opportunity to speak, and without a proper trial. This case is directly linked to the events of 2021 at Korydallos prison, where Turkish political prisoners were beaten inside the courthouse: Halil Demir is being prosecuted for resisting this violence.
In response, he has begun a hunger strike to demand respect for his fundamental rights. His supporters denounce the repressive cooperation between the Greek and Turkish states aimed at criminalizing refugees and political activists, and are calling for international solidarity.