Demirtas, one of Turkey’s best known politicians, faces up to 142 years in jail if convicted on charges of links to the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He denies the charges.

Demirtas, told the court that the case against him was political and said he would not expect a fair trial as President Tayyip Erdogan openly urged the courts to arrest him, Reuters reported.

“Up until now I have not seen the slightest hint that I will be tried justly,” he said in his first appearance in the case on Wednesday after more than 15 months in detention.

The court is set to hold the next hearing in his case on April 11, the official said.

As many as 5,000 members of the HDP, the third-largest party in the Turkish parliament, have been detained according to the opposition party. Several of its lawmakers have also been stripped of their parliamentary status.

Reporter’s code: 50101