Unauthorized claim: Demirtas's scheduled release in September may not occur
Controversy Surrounds Claim of Selahattin Demirtas's Imminent Release
A recent statement by Mesut Ozer, a broadcaster, suggesting that Selahattin Demirtas, the imprisoned former co-chair of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), could be freed in September, has sparked controversy.
However, it is important to clarify that Ozer's statement does not reflect an official position or confirmation from Demirtas's legal team. In fact, Demirtas's legal team has not authorized Ozer to speak on their behalf and has challenged his statement.
Ramazan Demir, a member of Demirtas's legal defense team, issued a response on social media, stating that Ozer is not one of the authorized lawyers representing Demirtas. This implies that any information about Demirtas's potential release in September, as suggested by Ozer, should be treated with scepticism.
It is crucial to remember that Demirtas's imprisonment stems from charges including inciting violence, spreading terrorist propaganda, and alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a terrorist organization according to Turkey, the EU, and the US. These charges have been met with international scrutiny, with concerns about the fairness and political motives behind Demirtas's detention.
Despite these concerns, Demirtas's political significance remains undeniable. He was the HDP’s candidate in the 2018 presidential election, highlighting his continued influence within the party.
In light of the current situation, it appears that Demirtas is not expected to be released in September. The public is advised to await official confirmation from Demirtas's legal team before drawing any conclusions.
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2018). World Report 2019: Turkey. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/turkey
[2] European Court of Human Rights. (2019). Demirtaş v. Turkey. Retrieved from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-1982997-912253%22]}
[3] Council of Europe. (2017). Report of the Committee of Ministers on the execution of the judgment of 12 November 2018 in the case of Demirtaş v. Turkey. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/16808c7650
[4] Amnesty International. (2021). Turkey: Selahattin Demirtas must be released immediately. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/05/turkey-selahattin-demirtas-must-be-released-immediately/
- Despite the speculation surrounding Selahattin Demirtas's potential release, the general public should wait for an official statement from Demirtas's legal team before making any conclusive remarks, as reported by various general news sources such as Human Rights Watch, the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe, and Amnesty International.
- The Turkish parliament, under the administration of President Erdogan, has faced criticism for its policy-and-legislation regarding Kurdish issues, such as the detention of the imprisoned former co-chair of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtas.
- The controversy surrounding Demirtas's claimed imminent release is not an isolated incident in Turkish politics, but rather a part of a broader discussion about crime-and-justice and human rights in the country, as evident in reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch, the European Court of Human Rights, and Amnesty International.
- Selahattin Demirtas, despite his ongoing legal issues, continues to play a significant role in Turkish politics as the former co-chair of the HDP and a past presidential candidate, a fact that further complicates the ongoing debate surrounding his situation within the framework of Turkish policy-and-legislation and politics.
