SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – Selahattin Demirtas, a Kurdish politician who is imprisoned in Turkey, said the Turkish government should send a delegation to Istanbul’s Imrali prison for peace purposes, rather than sending troops outside the country. “Without opening Imrali’s doors, the road to victory will remain closed in the upcoming elections,” he said.
Former co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas on Wednesday wrote an article on Turkey’s upcoming elections, the peace process, the request by Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT) to replace Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and Ocalan’s condition in Imrali.
Demirtas said the head of MIT Hakan Fidan attempted to meet him when the solution process was still underway, and delegations were visiting Imrali prison to maintain peace with Ocelan, but he refused.
The Turkish government should send a delegation back to Imrali to establish peace
Demirtas said the Turkish government should send a delegation back to Imrali to establish peace, rather than sending troops across its borders. “Our request to meet with Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali is to restore peace. Persecuting Ocalan is unlawful. This is both a crime and torture.”
The former co-chair of HDP said that requesting a meeting is a legal right and meetings can take place in prisons with the permission of the Ministry of Justice. He added that he is an attorney and can use his power of attorney at the meeting.
Isn’t it illegal for a prisoner to be denied access to his lawyers for years?
Regarding Turkey’s refusal to let him see Ocelan, Demirtas asks, “Isn’t it illegal for a prisoner to be denied access to his lawyers for years?”
Demirtas believes a lift of the ban would enable them to work together to maintain social peace in Turkey. This would lead to a democratic and peaceful resolution to its problems.
“It is an honor for us to work on a solution. We are always proud of our efforts to prevent the deaths of thousands of people. Although we have had shortcomings, no one can question our goals or intentions,” Demirtas said.
Everyone should put as much effort into the peace solution as Ocelan did
“Everyone should put as much effort into the solution as Ocelan did,” he said.
“We are willing to meet with Ocalan in Imrali prison and contribute to social peace. Everything should be clear and no games should be played. A legal basis should be established and the process should take place under the watchful eye of the Turkish parliament,” Demirtas said.
Furthermore, he insisted that the steps should not be “tactical” measures aimed at winning elections.
