Application for HDP's Demirtaş to Attend Public Meetings

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As the applications made on behalf of Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) imprisoned presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş for public meetings to be held in İstanbul, İzmir, Antep and Mardin were approved by the election boards, Demirtaş's lawyers have filed applications to the Ministry of Justice and Supreme Election Board (YSK) for Demirtaş to attend those meetings.

In the petition prepared by lawyer Günizi Satar and sent to both institutions, it was demanded that Demirtaş attend the meetings in person or via Audio and Visual Information System.

The petition read, "Demirtaş will be able to meet his voters only twice via [state channel] TRT during the campaign period. For this reason, it is important that principle of free election and equality be applied in practice as well".

"As much as Demirtaş is exercising his right to join the election as a presidential candidate even though he is imprisoned, his equal participation to election works being obstructed by his detention violates the Constitution". (AS/TK)