‘Devran’ Makes its Debut: Women will Achieve Solidarity

* Photo: CHP İstanbul

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Artists Jülide Kural and Ömer Şahin have taken Selahattin Demirtaş's second short story book "Devran" to stage.

Demirtaş, the former Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), has been behind bars in Edirne Prison since November 4, 2016.

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Adapted for the stage as a closet drama, "Devran" made its debut in Kenter Theater in Şişli, İstanbul on January 11.

Several people were there to watch the play for the first time. Among the audience were also Selvi Kılıçdaroğlu, the wife of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Dilek İmamoğlu, the wife of CHP's İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu.

Başak Demirtaş: Solidarity gives us strength

* Photo: Evrim Kepenek - bianet

Speaking to journalists, Başak Demirtaş, the wife of Selahattin Demirtaş, said that solidarity gave them hope and strength in every sense of the term. "So, I am very happy that we have once again come together on such a day and in such a place", she added.

Expressing her curiosity for the play, İmamoğlu also said, "I think a beautiful play will be staged. We are here to watch it. I hope that it will be nice".

Audience demanded 'freedom to Demirtaş'

Before five stories from "Devran" met the audience, the play started with Demirtaş's voice from a video message sent by him in previous years. While the audience watched the play in sporadic applause, folk songs were also performed on saz [a traditional stringed instrument] of Talat Yeşil and Cemal Özkan. The play ended with the song "Bella Ciao".

Meanwhile, the audience chanted the slogan "Freedom to Demirtaş".

'We are too many to be underestimated'

* Photo: CHP social media account

Speaking on the stage after the play, Jülide Kural said,

"This is very meaningful and important for us. As the ones who think the same about the major problems of this country and about basic facts such as peace and freedom, we are too many to be underestimated. Maybe, for the time being, we cannot manage to stand side by side or build a culture of solidarity. But, we will do it. We will achieve it with women.

"Our main 'mortar' in building this solidarity is democracy, democracy and democracy... We can make it under any circumstances. We have such power. We hope that this artistic production will contribute to the establishment of democracy.

"Tonight, we have put folk songs to our bags, we have listened to stories. He has always been with us. He has been with us with his hope, his strength and his joy of living. Our friend and fellow Selahattin Demirtaş..."

* Video: Evrim Kepenek - bianet

'You have helped to raise the hope'

Kural's address to Selahattin Demirtaş was strongly applauded by the audience. After her, Başak Demirtaş took to stage and expressed how touched she was by the play in following words:

"The performance was great. It was very sad. It was a very beautiful play. Solidarity gives hope, moral support and strength. When it is done with theater, with arts, it has made us feel very different feelings.

"I thank very much to everyone who has contributed to this. I also thank so much to the ones who have come here. You have helped to raise the hope in beautiful days to come. Thank you very much."

Selahattin Demirtaş: God bless your hands and labor

* Video: Evrim Kepenek - bianet

Demirtaş also made the audience listen to a voice record by Selahattin Demirtaş. Addressing the audience, Selahattin Demirtaş said, "I would like to extend my thanks and greetings to everyone who is or is not in the hall. God bless the hands, the labor of everyone who has labored for this. Thank you."

The play was watched by several people, including:

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan, wife of Selahattin Demirtaş Başak Demirtaş, HDP former MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder, HDP İstanbul MPs Hüda Kaya and Filiz Kerestecioğlu, CHP's Adalar District Mayor Erdem Gül, actor Kadir İnanır, politician and economist Nesrin Nas and Constitutional legist and politician Prof. Dr. Binnaz Toprak, journalists Nadire Mater and Ali Duran Topuz and MKM artists Serhat Kural, Nurcan Demirci. (EMK/SD)