HDP: Demirtaş’s Demand for Release Rejected

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In a statement issued by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), it has been stated that HDP’s imprisoned presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş’s demand for release has been rejected.

HDP made the following statement on Twitter:

“We condemn this unlawful decision that obstructs equal and a fair election. Each second that millions’ candidate #Demirtaş is not together with his voters will shadow June 24 elections a bit more and more, and maket he democratic legitimacy questionable”.

HDP Batman MP Ayşe Acar Başaran and a group of lawyers applied to Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court on May 15 for release of Demirtaş.

Arrested in Edirne, standing trial in Ankara

Former Co-Chair of HDP Selahattin Demirtaş has been imprisoned since November 4, 2016 at Edirne Type F Prison on charges of "establishing and directing a terrorist organization", "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "praising the criminal and crime." Though the lawsuit was filed in Diyarbakır, it was handed over to Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court chaired by Murat İlhan for security purposes.

The lawsuit against Demirtaş consists of 31 summaries of proceedings in total, which were prepared and sent to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey so that Demirtaş will be relieved from his MP duties. Demirtaş faces up to 142 years of prison sentence.

Demirtaş had his first hearing on February 14-16, 2018. (EKN/TK)