‘Demirtaş is held behind bars upon Erdoğan’s instruction’

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay held a press conference at the HDP central office in Ankara today (December 11).

Addressing the reporters regarding a series of current issues in Turkey, Ebru Günay also touched upon the remarks of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Erdoğan, who targeted Selaahttin Demirtaş, the arrested former Co-Chair of the HDP.

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"The target is our party and democracy forces but the entire Turkey is suffering from its damage," Günay said, adding that "this picture meant that the government was defying democracy, human rights and the law."

"It was just yesterday when Erdoğan repeated this defiance once again. He once again gave an instruction to the judiciary to keep our former Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ and our captive friends behind bars," Günay reminded the reporters and added:

"Saying, 'We will not protect the right of Demirtaş, our judiciary will not give such an opportunity; we will never pave the way for his release,' he has once again confessed that Demirtaş and thousands of people from the HDP are kept behind bars upon his very instruction.

"Despite you, we will make this country free. Despite you, we will bring peace and democracy to this country."

'What we need is to establish peace'

Günay also referred to the recent news on possible US and European Union (EU) sanctions on Turkey. She said, "Our attitude is clear in the face of this government's policy of destruction and its understanding of diplomacy which has fallen apart. Stop playing with the future of Turkey's peoples."

Noting that the burden of any potential EU or US sanctions will entirely fall on the shoulders of the people, Ebru Günay stated, "Everyone knows that any negative decision to be given at these summits and any sanction to be imposed afterwards is to be blamed on this government, which has forced war, unlawfulness and blackmail on people."

"Peoples do not need S-400s or F35s. Our only need is to establish peace at home and in the world. And that is why diplomacy exists," she added. (DŞ/SD)