A delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party met with former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and former Diyarbakır (Amed) mayor Selçuk Mızraklı at Edirne High Security Prison on 11 January as part of the ongoing peace process, which was initiated following Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s recent calls for dialogue.
The delegation included DEM Party MP Pervin Buldan, Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader Sırrı Süreyya Önder and former co-mayor of Mardin Ahmet Türk. The visit follows their earlier meeting with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island. The delegation spent three hours in talks with Demirtaş and Mızraklı.
Speaking after the meeting, Sırrı Süreyya Önder stressed the positive atmosphere and the commitment of Demirtaş and Mızraklı to the peace process. “Their health and morale are good. They have expressed their full support for the developing process and asked us to convey this to the public.”
Ahmet Türk also made a statement underlining the interdependence between Turks and Kurds. “Our efforts are for peace. Turks need Kurds and Kurds need Turks. We hope that Turkey will reach a point where it builds democracy in the Middle East,” he said.
The DEM Party delegation will visit former HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ in Kandıra prison on 12 January to continue their discussions.
— Selahattin Demirtaş (@hdpdemirtas) January 11, 2025
Demirtaş shared a statement after meeting
Demirtaş calls for transparency and inclusiveness after the meeting. He published a statement on his social media account in which he stressed the importance of transparency and social participation in the peace process. “This is a process of democratisation, peace and brotherhood,” Demirtaş said. He stressed that peace efforts should involve all segments of society and called for unity and mutual understanding.
Demirtaş also noted the distinction between peace and resolution, saying: “Peace can be built even with a simple embrace. Resolution, on the other hand, is a long-term, democratic struggle. Right now we are working to build peace and we expect everyone’s support”. Demirtaş’s full statement is below.
DEM Party Deputy Chairman Tayip Temel talked about Abdullah Öcalan’s meeting in Imralı Island in a TV broadcast he attended recently. Temel stated that Öcalan underlined the critical role of Selahattin Demirtaş in the process. “He [Öcalan] described Demirtaş as both a supporter and an active participant in this process. Demirtaş is an important actor with great contributions and influence,” he said.
Statement by Selahattin Demirtaş
Dear friends,
I send my heartfelt greetings and love to everyone on the occasion of the visit of our “DEM Party İmralı Delegation”. While expressing my gratitude to our delegation for their tireless and serious efforts, I would also like to state that I fully trust and support the DEM Party, especially Mr Abdullah Ocalan, who has made great efforts for a democratic solution and peace on İmralı Island.
The sensitive issue of this period is public support. Therefore, transparency is very important and necessary. As a requirement of transparency, it is valuable that our delegation provides information about its work and goals to political parties in Parliament, civil society organisations, political and social circles. It is also crucial that political and social actors avoid the language of threats, blackmail, insults and provocations and focus on building confidence in society for democratic and peaceful solutions.
This process is a “process of democratisation, peace and brotherhood”. As democratic and peaceful political actors, we deeply desire and support a lasting end to violent conflict. If the conditions are right, if Mr Öcalan takes an initiative in this regard, I declare that we will stand by him. Of course, any initiative for such a call would be entirely his. As he himself has said, the responsibility for creating the legal and political conditions for such a call lies with the government and parliament. At this stage, we will fully support any peace initiative. However, we are not the addressees of such a potential appeal. Our role and duty as politicians is to strengthen the foundations for peace, to encourage the parties to peace and to facilitate it. In addition, our fundamental responsibility is to defend and promote the democracy, freedom, equality, justice and human rights that are indispensable for peace. Without such a foundation, peace would be incomplete.
Everyone needs to know that while some seek to deepen the conflict through various ill-intentions, many good-faith efforts are being made to open the doors to a democratic and peaceful solution. It is important to support such positive steps with confidence and hope.
But political peace must also bring social peace, that is, democratisation, equality, justice and freedom. When all channels of struggle against oppression and inequality are opened in this way, it becomes permanent and benefits the whole country. In this way, public support for political peace will increase, and with the ownership of the majority, provocations and sabotage attempts will be nullified.
At this critical and historic moment, I express my gratitude to the President of Turkey, Mr Devlet Bahçeli, Mr Özgür Özel and other party leaders for the steps they have taken or will take for peace initiatives. I pledge my unreserved support for any step taken to strengthen democracy beyond party interests.
Finally, I would like to emphasise: The direction and face of the majority of Kurds is towards peace. The Kurdish public expects all political parties and actors to fulfil their duties for peace and democracy side by side. On this basis, Turkey will also strengthen its democracy and ensure peace and solidarity among peoples.
Once again, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all, with the hope that we will soon meet in a free and democratic environment.
Selahattin Demirtaş
11 January 2025
Edirne Prison
