TURKEY: Demirtaş calls for Turkish opposition to peacefully unite against Erdogan, democracy is only solution

ISTANBUL / ANKARA – The detained leader of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has called for Turkish opposition parties to join forces against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian regime in order to stop repression, removal, and killings of politicians.

Demirtaş claims that the failed policies of Turkish President Erdogan have contributed to the deterioration of the political, economic, and social reality in Turkey, and said that there is an urgent need for the Turkish opposition to join forces and peacefully enforce early elections to bring about a change in government and policy.

Demirtaş, who was arrested by the Turkish regime in November 2016 on “terrorism” charges, also said there are thousands of political prisoners in AKP prisons and that Turkish opposition leaders should work together on issues of democracy and human rights to reduce repression and prevent murders. The Turkish regime has arrested hundreds of HDP-members and removed most of its democratically elected representatives in many southeastern municipalities. Demirtaş stressed that all issues could be resolved in a peaceful manner.

Last week, Bulent Arinç, former deputy Prime Minister and adviser to President Erdogan, “resigned” last week after he and President Erdogan had a fallout after Arinç had called for detained Selahattin Demirtas and Osman Kavala to be released.

The HDP is a Kurdish-dominated political party but includes members of all components and peoples in Turkey, including Christian Syriacs (Chaldeans-Arameans-Assyrians) and Armenians.

Article in Arabic