HDP’s Yuksekdag calls for freedom for Demirtas in court appearance
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Jailed former co-chair of HDP demanded Selahattin Demirtas be released, in her latest court hearing where she said there is no evidence against her.
“Today I am not demanding freedom for myself, but for Demirtas. Demirtas should be released to do his election campaign,” said Figen Yuksekdag, who had to give up her position as co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) as she faces terror-related charges.
In her fifth appearance in court at Ankara’s Sincan prison accused of having ties with the PKK, she said she was demanding Demirtas’ release on behalf of 80 million people – the population of Turkey.
Demirtas is also in jail on similar charges. He is HDP’s candidate for the post of president.
Opposition parties have joined HDP in calling for Demirtas to be released for the campaign ahead of the June 24 vote.
Demirtas’ lawyer, Mahsuni Karaman, told reporters that he expects his client will be released soon though this has not been officially confirmed.
Yuksekdag was arrested in November 2016 on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization,” supporting terrorism and Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), after she participated in a rally in February 2015 protesting Ocalan’s imprisonment.
After spending a year and a half in jail, she told the court on Thursday that no “convincing explanation has been submitted” in the case against her.
The court turned its attention to seven summary proceedings against her, three of which had been prepared by judges who were subsequently arrested due to alleged connections with Gulenist Movement that has been accused of being behind the failed 2016 coup. Her lawyers asked the court to annul the proceedings connected to these three judges.
HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan was among party deputies who attended the hearing, according to Rudaw’s correspondent Shawkat Harki who was covering Yuksekdag’s trial.
Cuhmurriyet newspaper reported that the Swedish ambassador and other foreign dignitaries were barred from attending the session.
Yuksekdag remained defiant in court as her party faces a challenging election campaign with its leader and many members jailed.
“Our will is in the streets although our bodies are jailed,” she said.
The court ruled Yuksekdag must remain in prison as the matter is not yet concluded.
“Today I am not demanding freedom for myself, but for Demirtas. Demirtas should be released to do his election campaign,” said Figen Yuksekdag, who had to give up her position as co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) as she faces terror-related charges.
In her fifth appearance in court at Ankara’s Sincan prison accused of having ties with the PKK, she said she was demanding Demirtas’ release on behalf of 80 million people – the population of Turkey.
Demirtas is also in jail on similar charges. He is HDP’s candidate for the post of president.
Opposition parties have joined HDP in calling for Demirtas to be released for the campaign ahead of the June 24 vote.
Demirtas’ lawyer, Mahsuni Karaman, told reporters that he expects his client will be released soon though this has not been officially confirmed.
Yuksekdag was arrested in November 2016 on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization,” supporting terrorism and Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), after she participated in a rally in February 2015 protesting Ocalan’s imprisonment.
After spending a year and a half in jail, she told the court on Thursday that no “convincing explanation has been submitted” in the case against her.
The court turned its attention to seven summary proceedings against her, three of which had been prepared by judges who were subsequently arrested due to alleged connections with Gulenist Movement that has been accused of being behind the failed 2016 coup. Her lawyers asked the court to annul the proceedings connected to these three judges.
HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan was among party deputies who attended the hearing, according to Rudaw’s correspondent Shawkat Harki who was covering Yuksekdag’s trial.
Cuhmurriyet newspaper reported that the Swedish ambassador and other foreign dignitaries were barred from attending the session.
Yuksekdag remained defiant in court as her party faces a challenging election campaign with its leader and many members jailed.
“Our will is in the streets although our bodies are jailed,” she said.
The court ruled Yuksekdag must remain in prison as the matter is not yet concluded.