HDP Goes to ECtHR for Its Co-Chairs Demirtaş, Yüksekdağ

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has applied to the European Court of the Human Rights (ECtHR) for its arrested Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, and its MP İdris Baluken whom a detention warrant was issued against despite his medical condition.

The delegation consisting of HDP Group Deputy Chair Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Vice Co-Chair Saruhan Oluç, deputies Mithat Sancar, Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Osman Baydemir, and human rights advocate lawyer Reyhan Yalçındağ submitted an application to the ECtHR in person yesterday (February 20).

Sharing information with press members following the application, the delegation members underlined that the objections to the arrests haven’t been even examined by the Constitutional Court and that their arrests during the State of Emergency due to their statements is a violation of freedom of expression, right of freedom and security, and right of free election.

12 of 59 HDP MPs remain behind bars

HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, Şırnak MPs Ferhat Encü, Leyla Birlik, Hakkari MPs Selma Irmak, Abdullah Zeydan, Diyarbakır MPs İdris Baluken, Nursel Aydoğan, Ziya Pir, İmam Taşçıer, Ankara MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Mardin MP Gülser Yıldırım were taken into custody on November 4. Yüksekdağ, Demirtaş, Baluken, Birlik, Irmak, Aydoğan, Yıldırım, Zeydan and Encü were arrested on the same day.

Pir, Taşçıer and Önder were later released on probation.

HDP Hakkari MP Akdoğan was arrested on November 7.

HDP Group Deputy Chair Çağlar Demirel and HDP Siirt MP Besime Konca were arrested on December 13, which increased the number of arrested HDP MPs to 12.

HDP İstanbul MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu and HDP Muş MP Ahmet Yıldırım were replaced for the arrested group deputy chairs.

Şırnak MP Leyla Birlik was released on January 4, 2017.

Baluken was discharged on January 30, 2017.

First released on probation after getting arrested, Adana MP Meral Danış Beştaş was taken into custody and arrested again on January 30, 2017 upon opposition by the Prosecutor's office.

Ayhan Bilgen was arrested on January 31.

Ferhat Encü was arrested on November 4, 2016, released on February 15, 2017 and arrested again on February 17. With Encü's arrest, 12 HDP MPs remain behind bars. (HK/TK)