Jailed politician released from prison on special permission, accompanies his wife

The jailed former co-chair of Kurdish-oriented People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas was brought to Istanbul on March 1st with special permission from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In Istanbul, Demirtas accompanied his wife, Basak Demirtas, who had undergone surgery. During which time, it was revealed that he had a phone conversation with Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli.

Bahceli’s call, relaying thanks to Demirtas

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the MHP, who had initiated a process following PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for the organization to “dissolve itself,” made a phone call to Selahattin Demirtas, who is being held in Edirne Prison.

During the conversation, Bahceli first extended his well wishes to Basak Demirtas. He then thanked Demirtas for his contributions to the ongoing process. Demirtas responded, expressing that he remained hopeful about the process and would continue supporting it.

In response to questions about whether MHP leader Devlet Bahceli had spoken with former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, DEM Party Spokesperson Aysegul Dogan confirmed the conversation. “Inter-party and inter-leader dialogue has been something we have always supported”, she stated.

Demirtas supported PKK ringleader Ocalan’s call

Despite Demirtas being in prison for nearly nine years, he expressed his support for Abdullah Ocalan’s call to the PKK. He stated, “I will do more than my part to help them succeed.”