ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Unable to campaign for the Turkish presidency through the media and at public rallies, jailed pro-Kurdish HDP candidate Selahattin Demirtas has resorted to tweeting hypotheticals intended to be ironic and humorous as a part of his campaign strategy.
In one hypothetical tweet, Demirtas explains how an airplane was passing over the prison where he is jailed. The passengers waved at him, saying: “Look, it’s Demirtas!” He replied to them by saying: “If I win, I will not tax fuel used by the farmers.”
He also ironically asked Turkey’s electoral commission (YSK) whether his “propaganda” was against its electoral laws.
“Dear YSK, I wonder if using the state’s facilities in the prison for my propaganda violates electoral laws. Has this violated other candidates’ rights? After all, you are very sensitive regarding justice!” tweeted Demirtas.
He has previously said his electoral rights have been violated because the other five presidential challengers are able to campaign through the media and in public.
Demirtas’ lawyers requested for Turkey’s judiciary to release him, but the request was initially declined. They have resubmitted their request, but a reply is pending.
Sometimes called the “Kurdish Obama,” he is known for his public rhetoric and literary references.
He also tweeted hypotheticals like meeting with workers who were constructing a new prison next to his in Edirne and meeting with people who were breaking their fast during Iftar. He promised to improve the life of laborers and build hospitals instead of prisons.
He tweeted as if he were making a diary entry, regarding Abdullah Zeydan, an HDP deputy who shares a cell with Demirtas.
“Dear diary, I will attend a rally shortly to complete my election work for today. Mr Abdullah is the only attendee at the rally. I’m worried he will be short circuited from an overload.”
Later he tweeted that despite all this he will continue his quest for peace, equality and brotherhood “until peace is achieved.”
“If you do not get burned, if you do not get burned, if you do not get burned, how can darkness be lightened,” Demirtas said.
Demirtas was jailed in November 2016 alongside 11 HDP lawmakers over alleged ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a named terrorist organization. On Friday, HDP leaders urged Turkey’s Constitutional Court to order his swift release.
Turkey will hold its snap presidential election on June 24 in which six candidates including Demirtas and Erdogan will compete.
In one hypothetical tweet, Demirtas explains how an airplane was passing over the prison where he is jailed. The passengers waved at him, saying: “Look, it’s Demirtas!” He replied to them by saying: “If I win, I will not tax fuel used by the farmers.”
He also ironically asked Turkey’s electoral commission (YSK) whether his “propaganda” was against its electoral laws.
“Dear YSK, I wonder if using the state’s facilities in the prison for my propaganda violates electoral laws. Has this violated other candidates’ rights? After all, you are very sensitive regarding justice!” tweeted Demirtas.
He has previously said his electoral rights have been violated because the other five presidential challengers are able to campaign through the media and in public.
Demirtas’ lawyers requested for Turkey’s judiciary to release him, but the request was initially declined. They have resubmitted their request, but a reply is pending.
Sometimes called the “Kurdish Obama,” he is known for his public rhetoric and literary references.
He also tweeted hypotheticals like meeting with workers who were constructing a new prison next to his in Edirne and meeting with people who were breaking their fast during Iftar. He promised to improve the life of laborers and build hospitals instead of prisons.
He tweeted as if he were making a diary entry, regarding Abdullah Zeydan, an HDP deputy who shares a cell with Demirtas.
“Dear diary, I will attend a rally shortly to complete my election work for today. Mr Abdullah is the only attendee at the rally. I’m worried he will be short circuited from an overload.”
Later he tweeted that despite all this he will continue his quest for peace, equality and brotherhood “until peace is achieved.”
“If you do not get burned, if you do not get burned, if you do not get burned, how can darkness be lightened,” Demirtas said.
Demirtas was jailed in November 2016 alongside 11 HDP lawmakers over alleged ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a named terrorist organization. On Friday, HDP leaders urged Turkey’s Constitutional Court to order his swift release.
Turkey will hold its snap presidential election on June 24 in which six candidates including Demirtas and Erdogan will compete.
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