ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Thirty bar associations across Turkey on Wednesday called on the Turkish authorities to implement a ruling by the highest international court for fundamental human rights, demanding the immediate release of prominent Kurdish opposition politician Selahattin Demirtas.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on July 8 that Demirtas, who has been imprisoned since November 2016 on terror-related charges, must be released immediately. Turkey appealed the ruling, but the court upheld its decision in the final verdict.
“We call for the immediate implementation of the rulings of the Constitutional Court [of Turkey] and the ECHR, the fulfillment of decisions regarding those whose rights have been found to be violated, and adherence to the rule of law. We respectfully share this appeal with the public,” said the bar associations.
The Constitutional Court, the highest legal body for constitutional review in Turkey, ruled in 2020 that Demirtas’ rights have been violated.
Turkish officials and influential politicians have not opposed the final ruling by the European court.
Devlet Bahceli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said the release of Demirtas would benefit Turkey. Bahceli, a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, holds significant influence and his opinions are highly regarded in Ankara. He is also regarded as the father of the ongoing peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Turkey’s justice minister said on Wednesday that an Ankara court, tasked with Demirtas’ case, is going to evaluate the ECHR ruling.
Erdogan said his cabinet will uphold the Turkish court’s decision.
"This country is a country of law. We will abide by whatever the judiciary says," Erdogan told reporters after his ruling party's parliamentary group meeting. "Whatever the judiciary decides will happen."
Many legal experts expect Demirtas to be released soon, citing the removal of all legal obstacles keeping him behind bars.
Demirtas was the co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) between (2014-2018). Since then, he and a large number of his colleagues from the party - now rebranded as the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) - have been jailed over alleged ties with the PKK.
PKK and Turkey have publicly been engaged in peace talks for about a year.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on July 8 that Demirtas, who has been imprisoned since November 2016 on terror-related charges, must be released immediately. Turkey appealed the ruling, but the court upheld its decision in the final verdict.
“We call for the immediate implementation of the rulings of the Constitutional Court [of Turkey] and the ECHR, the fulfillment of decisions regarding those whose rights have been found to be violated, and adherence to the rule of law. We respectfully share this appeal with the public,” said the bar associations.
The Constitutional Court, the highest legal body for constitutional review in Turkey, ruled in 2020 that Demirtas’ rights have been violated.
Turkish officials and influential politicians have not opposed the final ruling by the European court.
Devlet Bahceli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said the release of Demirtas would benefit Turkey. Bahceli, a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, holds significant influence and his opinions are highly regarded in Ankara. He is also regarded as the father of the ongoing peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Turkey’s justice minister said on Wednesday that an Ankara court, tasked with Demirtas’ case, is going to evaluate the ECHR ruling.
Erdogan said his cabinet will uphold the Turkish court’s decision.
"This country is a country of law. We will abide by whatever the judiciary says," Erdogan told reporters after his ruling party's parliamentary group meeting. "Whatever the judiciary decides will happen."
Many legal experts expect Demirtas to be released soon, citing the removal of all legal obstacles keeping him behind bars.
Demirtas was the co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) between (2014-2018). Since then, he and a large number of his colleagues from the party - now rebranded as the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) - have been jailed over alleged ties with the PKK.
PKK and Turkey have publicly been engaged in peace talks for about a year.
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