ANKARA – imprisoned co-chair of HDP Selahattin Demirtaş sent a message to his party’s third extraordinary congress. Demirtaş called all party’s components and its executives to prepare “ Plan of Democracy and Peace Struggle”.

Imprisoned co-chair of HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Selahattin Demirtaş sent a message from Edirne Prison to his party’s extraordinary congress. Spokesperson Osman Baydemir read message of Demirtaş.

Here is summary of Demirtas’ message;

“ Our dear friends,

We are facing with ongoing operation towards HDP which began after June 7 election and jailed thousands executives, members and co-mayors of HDP. Therefore we had to conduct an extraordinary congress. Our co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ’s deputyship and membership were dropped unlawfully.

Before everything, I condemn the conspiracy over Figen Yüksekdağ and HDP. Dropped deputyship and membership of Yüksekdağ is declared null and avoid from our side.

… Unfortunately I don’t have a chance such as making long evaluations of politics by letter. But I will not pass to remind three important braking points of this country. First: after June 7 election result, carried out war concept and politic coup. Second: July 15 coup attempt. Third; Referendum result. Our party already determined these events and share with public opinion. Of course all these three events made peoples of Turkey as victim.


To my knowledge there is no regime changing or fighting for this. The reality is regime passed to other hands. The fighting occurred between old owner elite of Turkey and the new one.


… My dear brothers and sisters;

… We have moral responsibility on peoples to making HDP lead position of Turkey. How can we as HDP reach the democracy and peace which inclusivity for all different cultures and identities? How can HDP take initiative for these issues?

Here! Time already came to finds answers for these questions. Undoubtedly we don’t have a magic stick to resolve these problems immediately. We are also aware that we are wanted to being purged by all governments potential. But, despite all these facts, our advantage is that we are doing politics with all society which has resistance struggle potential.


… Therefore A “plan of democracy and peace struggle” should be prepared by HDP and with its all components. All executives of party have to spend a great effort to prepare and make it actualize.”

Selahattin Demirtaş, Edirne Prison