Prominent Kurdish writer and opposition politician from Turkey Selahattin Demirtaş has been held in detention since 4 November 2016 on dubious terrorism charges.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) twice ruled for Demirtaş’s immediate release, to no avail. Not only did the Turkish authorities fail to abide by the Court’s ruling, but they sentenced him to four years and eight months in prison in a separate case. They also brought new charges against him, for which he now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Demirtaş is being held in Edirne prison, western Turkey, far away from his loved ones in Diyarbakır.
It is time that Turkey abides by its obligations under international law and releases Demirtaş once and for all.
‘Thanks to friends like you I always feel free myself. Though I am shut behind walls I will decisively keep on working for a peaceful and better world. I would like you to know that your support and solidarity give me honour and greatly bolster my morale. I am grateful to each of you.’ Selahattin Demirtaş, writing to PEN International in 2019.
22 December 2021 marked one year since the ECtHR last called for Selahattin Demirtaş’s immediate release.
Join us in calling on the Turkish authorities to release him immediately and quash his conviction, in accordance with the ruling of the ECtHR, and end all ongoing criminal proceedings against him. Sign this petition, help us get as many signatures as possible:
PETITION:
