According to reports, the Turkish government has requested that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber for reconsideration. The deadline for appeal was October 8.
The ECHR had ruled that Demirtaş’s re-arrest in connection with the “Kobanê Case” was “legally problematic,” finding the evidence insufficient and determining that the detention was politically motivated. The court ordered Turkey to pay Demirtaş €55,745 in compensation.
Demirtaş had been sentenced to 42 years in prison in a politically motivated trial conducted by the pro-government judiciary in connection with the 2014 Kobanê resistance. In the same case, Figen Yüksekdağ received 30 years and 3 months, while other HDP executives were sentenced to up to 22 years and 6 months.
Although ECHR rulings are binding for Turkey, there are several examples of noncompliance, including the cases of Demirtaş, Osman Kavala, and Umut Hakkı. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers continues to monitor whether Turkey is implementing these decisions but has so far limited its response to granting extensions.
Bakırhan: The Ministry of Justice insists on unlawfulness
In a post on X, DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan criticized the appeal against the ECHR decision.
Bakırhan wrote: “The Ministry of Justice insists on maintaining illegality. The decision is crystal clear: our dear Selahattin Demirtaş must be released. Persisting in rejecting international legal rulings is nothing but an admission of lawlessness.”
He added: “We will continue to fight until Figen Yüksekdağ, Selahattin Demirtaş, and all our friends prosecuted in the fabricated Kobanê trial regain their freedom. Together, we will walk toward peace.”
Tülay Hatimoğulları: Appealing harms justice
Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları said: “Appealing the ECHR ruling means insisting on unlawfulness—it harms social peace and justice.”
She added: “Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ, and dozens of our comrades have been held hostage for nine years in a fabricated case. Neither we nor the millions whose hearts beat for peace will accept the persistence in injustice by keeping those who could contribute to peace behind bars,” emphasizing that their struggle against anti-democratic actions will continue.