Demirtaş: Please Go to Polls and Cast your Vote

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Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş called the voters to go to the polls in a statement on Twitter.

Demirtaş also sent a message through the Yeni Yaşam newspaper last week, saying, "Bear your cross if necessary, but go to the polls and cast your vote, which means 'No to fascism'. The election results can offer an opportunity for democracy and peace to develop."

"Don't forget the past, but the future is more important"

Demirtaş said the following in his tweets in this morning (March 29):

"Hello everyone. I know you got angry, you cried out against them at times. And you are right. But now, we are in a situation beyond these. Polls are going to be set up on Sunday. When you are going to the polls, please don't take superficial daily political debates with you. Leave them behind.

"The past is not totally unimportant. We should never forget the past, what we saw and lived. But the future is more important. For a better future, I call all our voters to support the HDP's election strategy.

"You are the direct determiners of this election. We have a historical opportunity at our doorstep to show our determining effect not only in the cities which we will take back from the trustees but everywhere. The strategic votes we will cast in the cities where we did not nominate a candidate will be the indicators of our power.

"By casting your votes for the candidate whom our party points out in the places where HDP did not nominate candidates, you will determine the results of the elections.

"Young friends, especially the ones who will vote for the first time, I am addressing at you. Never ever think, 'What will my vote change?'. Please go to the polls and cast your votes. I trust you.

"My valuable citizens, maybe I will be with you at the night of the election, but I will be looking at the same screen in my cell in Edirne. To see your votes which will make all of us happy on the results, greetings and sincere regards."

Demirtaş's hearing at the ECtHR will be held in September

In Demirtaş's application at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the date of the hearing has been determined.

The ECtHR will discuss its decision dated November 20, 2018, which said, "Demirtaş should be released," https://bianet.org/english/law/202778-ecthr-selahattin-demirtas-should-be-released at the Grand Chamber.

The ECtHR announced that it has accepted Turkey's appeal against the decision. Mahsuni Kahraman, an attorney for Demirtaş, told bianet that the ECtHR has accepted not only Turkey's but also Demirtaş's appeal.

In yesterday's statement, the ECtHR said that the hearing will be held on September 18, 3019. (AS/VK)