TURKEY has stepped up its persecution of the Kurdish people as a court sentenced the co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to five months in jail late on Tuesday.

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas was convicted of insulting the Turkish people and state institutions during a speech he delivered last year.

Mr Demirtas also faces terrorism charges for alleged links to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and propaganda on their behalf.