Representatives from DEM Party (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party), CHP (Republican People’s Party), EHP (Labor Movement Party), EMEP (Labour Party), TİP (Workers’ Party of Turkey) and TÖP (Social Freedom Party) made a statement in front of the prison after their visit to politicians Selahattin Demirtaş and Selçuk Mızraklı in Edirne Prison. The statement drew attention to the situation of political prisoners and highlighted a call for the implementation of ECtHR and Turkish Constitutional Court rulings.
Öztürk: We must comply with the conventions and decisions of high courts
With regard to the Peace and Democratic Society Process, EHP Chair Hakan Öztürk stated that the way for peace must be opened through the establishment of necessary conditions. “There are courts to resolve the issues of all humanity; there are the highest of these courts, there are international courts and conventions. According to Articles 46, 90, and 153 of our Constitution, we must comply with these conventions. We must comply with the decisions of these high courts. If we do so, there are rulings in favor of many of our friends who are currently in prison. In this sense, friends such as Selahattin Demirtaş, Selçuk Mızraklı, Can Atalay, the Gezi detainees, Çiğdem Mater, Tayfun Kahraman, and Osman Kavala should be released from prison. If we act this way, we can secure this peace process and keep the promise we made to the peoples,” he said.
Aslan: Political operations in Turkey must come to an end
EMEP Chair Seyit Aslan said, “Not only in Edirne, but in Silivri, Sincan, Kandıra, and many prisons across Turkey, there are political hostages. Today, we demand, based on the constitutional right and the implementation of decisions taken by international courts, that political operations in Turkey must come to an end. This country, this people, workers and laborers, the Turkish and Kurdish peoples do not deserve these anti-democratic practices. The government must take steps. The government must implement the Constitution unconditionally. Today, the state of detention and conviction has virtually been turned into a weapon in the hands of the government. Mayors taken into custody and their staff are arrested. Our call from here, from Edirne Prison, is this: for Turkey’s democratization, for the people of Turkey to exercise their rights and freedoms, and to guarantee co-existence under equal conditions, we want regulations to be made and implemented as soon as possible.”
Çiftçi: Democracy is being systematically dismantled
Emphasizing that Turkey has been going through a prolonged period of heavy repression shaped by political judiciary practices, CHP Deputy Chair Gül Çiftçi stated that courtrooms have turned into centers that suppress political competition, intimidate society, and aim to silence opposition politicians. She continued: “In this system where elected mayors, journalists, intellectuals, and various segments of social opposition are kept under the threat of punishment, democracy is being systematically dismantled. The judicial siege against our party’s institutional identity, against our Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor and our presidential candidate determined by the votes of 15.5 million citizens, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, against our mayors and our comrades, the unjust imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, the severe rights violations against Tayfun Kahraman, Çiğdem Mater, and Osman Kavala, and all the unlawfulness we have experienced recently point to one thing. The government seeks to silence the opposition it cannot defeat at the ballot box through the judiciary. In this sense, ECtHR decisions are part of Turkey’s international obligations, and their implementation is a constitutional requirement.”
Bakırhan: Why are those seeking justice kept in prison?
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan emphasized that Turkey has many issues and almost everyone in society is seeking justice. Underlining the need to comply with parliamentary commission reports, Constitutional Court (AYM), and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings, Bakırhan said, “We are at Edirne Prison, about which the ECtHR has repeatedly issued violation rulings. There are detainees tried in the Kobanê case. If those governing the country are truly sincere on this matter, the first step—implementing ECtHR and AYM rulings—must be taken immediately. The same rulings exist for Can Atalay, Osman Kavala, and Tayfun Kahraman. Today, we are at Edirne Prison to draw attention to ECtHR and AYM decisions. Why are those seeking justice kept in prison? It is difficult to understand. Tayfun Kahraman, Osman Kavala, Can Atalay, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, and the other friends tried in the Kobanê conspiracy case, will not go anywhere in the event that they are released. They have all struggled for this country to become a just, democratic, and egalitarian country. We do not accept, we cannot tolerate that our friends and comrades who would contribute to and support the peace process are kept behind bars. If you are sincere in this process, we demand that you implement the concerned decisions.”
Bakırhan added, “ECtHR decisions are part of Turkey’s international obligations, and their implementation is a constitutional requirement. Implementing these decisions is necessary for the constitutional order, the rule of law, and adherence to international law. Any practice that neutralizes Constitutional Court rulings or disregards ECtHR decisions undermines legal security, erodes citizens’ trust in justice, and weakens the state’s bond with its own law. The rights violations that Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ, Diyarbakır Mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, the Gezi detainees, and TİP Hatay MP Can Atalay have experienced for years must finally come to an end.”
Gürz: International agreements must be implemented
Emphasizing the importance of the struggle for justice, SMF Spokesperson Mahir Gürz said, “The ECHR, which is binding for Turkey, and similar national and international agreements must in fact be implemented and political prisoners must be released.”
Baş: We are fighting for freedom, democracy, and peace
Highlighting that the government instrumentalizes the judiciary, TİP Chair Erkan Baş said, “Because we are faced again and again with political conspiracy trials every day, we have to remind this; those behind bars in Turkey include former party leaders, persons who have run for the presidency, those still serving as party leaders—most recently, our comrade Murat Çepni, Co-Chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP)—elected MPs, elected mayors, former MPs, former mayors, municipal council members. Our friends representing all segments of opposition politicians in Turkey are currently held in prison. We are talking about democracy in this country, we are talking about the right to vote and to be elected. Today, the will of the majority of the people in Turkey has been usurped. In such a country, in such a geography, we must once again remind ourselves every time that we are fighting for freedom, democracy, and peace.”
Gözen: Wherever there is resistance, there are unlawful practices
TÖP Spokespersons Board member Juliana Gözen said, “No authority can explain why our comrades in struggle—Selçuk Mızraklı, Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ—are detained. But if we look across the country, wherever there is resistance, wherever there is a people’s struggle, there unlawful practices are carried out by the state and capital. Let us look at the Saturday Mothers, the Soma families, Rojin Kabaiş, Zeren Ertaş, Mehmet Türkmen, Esra Işık, and the main opposition party. Every day in this country, unlawfulness is carried out through cooperation between the state and the capital. The issue, dear friends, is not something that can be explained within legal limits. The issue is political. They place millions of people in this country into a state of hopeful expectation, yet at the same time, they do not take even the most minimal initial steps that should be taken. Unlawful practices must come to an end.”
Demirtaş-Mızraklı: Just as our entry into prison was political, so too will be our leave
Following the speeches, DEM Party Deputy Co-Chair Özlem Gündüz read a message from Selahattin Demirtaş and Selçuk Mızraklı, which reads as follows:
“We send our sincere greetings and love to all our people, especially to all friends who came to the gates of Edirne Prison in solidarity. We are doing quite well and are in good spirits. We are closely following developments and making every effort we can. Everyone should know that we are not counting the days to get out. Just as our entry into prison was political, so too will be our leave. Our greatest priority and sensitivity is to stop the loss of life caused by conflicts. For now, we are happy to have achieved this. We hope that through the laws to be enacted, this environment will be made permanent. However, the real struggle for democracy will develop and grow from now on. Wherever we are, we will make every effort to strengthen democratic politics. Turkey is now on the verge of major changes. For this change to benefit our peoples and workers, much stronger and more substantial alliances of struggle are needed. Your gathering in front of Edirne Prison today has shown that this unity of struggle continues to grow under all conditions. For this reason, we would like to thank all parties individually and send our sincere greetings and love. We hope to meet in free tomorrows.”
Leave a Reply