The influential Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş has called for political cooperation and respect for the rule of law, following a meeting on Monday in Turkey’s Edirne Prison, where he is held, with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel. Demirtaş, who shared a message on his X account, highlighted the need for open political channels and urged all parties to contribute to peace and justice in the country.
“Turkey’s political channels have been blocked for years,” Demirtaş said, criticising the arbitrary practices and unconstitutional actions of the government. He stressed that if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s proposed “normalisation” process is to take root, it must be based on respect for the rule of law. “Without this, political avenues cannot open, and there will be no ground for normalisation.”
Demirtaş said that he and Özel discussed a wide range of issues in their meeting, from income inequality and the Kurdish question to environmental rights and the recent healthcare scandal involving infant deaths. He stressed the importance of dialogue and the role of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (Turkey’s parliament) as the primary institution for resolving the country’s key issues.
Demirtaş also pointed to the urgent need for cross-party collaboration, highlighting the importance of moving beyond calculating for elections and rivalries between alliances. “We must focus on peace,” he urged, adding that all parties must contribute without political gamesmanship.
Addressing ongoing political trials, Demirtaş highlighted the absurdity of his having to meet with Özel in a prison. “I hope the rights of all political prisoners, starting with the Kobani and Gezi case detainees, as well as figures like Selçuk Mızraklı (a former co-mayor of Diyarbakır and Bekir Kaya (a former co-mayor of Van), will be restored, and this cruel injustice will end.” He also condemned judicial operations targeting political figures such as the İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Demirtaş reiterated his commitment to democratic politics despite being in prison himself, saying, “We will continue to insist on democratic politics under all circumstances and we will meet the responsibility that falls upon us in order to achieve societal peace.”
The minutes of the meeting will be relayed to the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party via lawyers acting for Demirtaş who facilitated the visit. Demirtaş expressed his gratitude to Özel for the visit and sent his regards to all CHP members.
After visiting Demirtaş in prison, Özel highlighted the importance of Demirtaş’s role in any potential peace process, and reiterating that: “The CHP will not be an obstacle.” He also expressed confidence in the party’s future place in history, asserting: “We will not be in a position to cause regret,” and saying that the stance of the party would ultimately be “a source of pride”. He stressed the need for sincerity and cooperation in collective steps towards resolving Turkey’s major issues.
Demirtaş’s comments come in the context of renewed speculation about a Kurdish peace process after a symbolic handshake between Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and members of the DEM Party during the Turkish parliament’s opening session in 1 October 2024. Bahçeli’s gesture raised hopes for dialogue, but Kurdish leaders, including DEM Party officials, remain sceptical, remarking that peace requires more than symbolic moves—it demands concrete political action to resolve Turkey’s longstanding Kurdish conflict.
Veteran Kurdish politician Türk: ‘We can’t be convinced without action’
