European court rules Turkey violated pro-Kurdish politician's right to speedy trial

FILE PHOTO: The leader of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas, greets his supporters during a rally in Istanbul, Turkey, June 5, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Turkey violated the right to a speedy trial for the former head of the pro-Kurdish opposition, Selahattin Demirtas.

Demirtas, one of Turkey's best known politicians, was sentenced in September to more than four years in jail on terrorism charges, after having spent nearly two years jailed while on trial.