Letter from Demirtaş to HDP Supporters

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) imprisoned Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has sent a letter from Edirne Prison to HDP supporters.

Demirtaş was arrested along with party’s other Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ on November 4. After 33 days of arrest, Demirtaş was allowed to meet with his family for the first time yesterday (December 7). Demirtaş’s letter was read out by his wife Başak Demirtaş.

Demirtaş has stated in his letter that his morale and spirits is high despite relocation.

“HDP is the only source of hope for all peoples in Turkey. The need and loyalty of people for freedom and peace to us and vica versa is strong enough that can’t be limited with the four walls.

“It must be known that this hostage situation won’t last long. Our response to the political mindset that tries to keep us hostage here will be to grow the HDP.

“I believe and trust in everybody. Be sure that we will achieve bigger things together”.

10 deputies arrested

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.

Pir, Taşçıer and Önder were released on probation.

Yüksekdağ, Demirtaş, Baluken, Birlik, Irmak, Aydoğan, Yıldırım, Zeydan and Encü were arrested on the same day.

HDP Hakkari MP Akdoğan was arrested on November 7, and the number of arrested HDP MPs rose to 10. (NV/TK)