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The dismissal of mayors and imprisonment of politicians from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) are part of an "all-out attack to annihilate the opposition," according to Selahattin Demirtaş, the jailed former co-chair of the HDP.
In an interview with the daily Evrensel, Demirtaş has made remarks on his imprisonment despite release orders, dismissal of HDP mayors in Kurdish-majority cities and his health condition.
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"All the people are under a reckless, immoral and heavy attack by the fascism. Our so-called trials are a part of this as well. We are held hostage by the branch of the AKP-MHP [Justice and Development Party - Nationalist Movement Party] partnership that is coiled in the judiciary. This exactly what the position of thousands of political prisoners is," Demirtaş said when asked about why he is still behind bars despite two release orders by courts and a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in favor of his release.
Drawing: Gianluca Costantini
"We are in the 2000s version of prisoner or concentration camps," Demirtaş said.
Demirtaş was not released after the ECtHR decision as a court convicted him for another charge days after the European court ruling.
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On the dismissal of HDP mayors in Kurdish majority cities, Demirtaş said, "The fascist bloc is doing what is expected from it. The AKP is being supported by Bahçeli, Perinçek and Ağar on the condition waging a continuous war against the Kurds and other dissidents inside and outside [the country]."
The real aim of the "war" is to "completely purge and annihilate" the opposition, Demirtaş added.
MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli and Patriotic Party (VP) Chair Doğu Perinçek have been supporting the AKP since the 2016 coup attempt, with the former establishing the "People's Alliance" with the ruling party. Mehmet Ağar is a former Minister of Interior who is thought to be influential on ministry.
The Ministry of Interior has replaced over two dozen mayors from the HDP with "trustees" since the March 31 local elections on the ground of "ongoing terrorism-related investigations against the mayors."
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His health condition is "not very good," Demirtaş told the newspaper. It was revealed last week that Demirtaş was not sent to a hospital by the prison administration despite having difficulty in breathing. He was sent to a hospital after the revelation.
"Sometimes the pain in my chest recurs, it makes it hard to breathe. Examinations are going on. It has not yet been diagnosed. Unfortunately, my health is not very good," Demirtaş informed. (HA/VK)
