Letter from Demirtaş: Intellectuals have a historic responsibility

Click to read the article in Turkish

Selahattin Demirtaş, former People's Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair who has been behind bars since November 2016 sent a letter from Edirne F-Type Prison with his wife Başak Demirtaş.

Demirtaş asked the letter to be delivered to various journalists, intellectuals, and activists in Turkey including IPS Communication Foundation chair and bianet Project coordinator, Nadire Mater, and drew attention to the upcoming elections in Turkey.

He asked the intellectuals to take action regarding the elections and underlined the importance of an alliance based on democracy but not any political party.

Sayın @Basak__Demirtas aracılığıyla Selahattin Demirtaş’tan gelen mektup… pic.twitter.com/5E2h1idY33

— İrfan Aktan (@irfanaktans) May 12, 2022

Democracy Convention and "We have a dream"

In the letter he sent, Demirtaş stated the following:

"It will be very important for you to raise your voice from where you are and demand that no one or any group will be excluded in the rebuilding process of the second century of the Republic.

"In addition, it is very urgent that you need to be involved in the process and make your demand for democracy visible. It is the historical responsibility of intellectuals to take an active stance while the people are so breathless and in sorrow."

In this respect, Demirtaş offered a "Democracy Convention" to be written, and the establishment of a group that consists of intellectuals.

He also offered the organizing of a conference named "We have a dream" as well.

CLICK:Constitutional Court: Rights of Selahattin Demirtaş violated

CLICK: ECtHR Grand Chamber: Release Selahattin Demirtaş immediately

(EMK/TB)