Demirtas release in September unlikely, lawyer claims unauthorized

Selahattin Demirtas, the former co-chair of Türkiye’s pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), is not expected to be released in September, contrary to recent claims made in an interview by a lawyer not authorized to speak on his behalf.

Attorney Mesut Ozer told a broadcaster that Demirtas could be freed next month as part of a broader reconciliation process. However, the statement was swiftly challenged by Demirtas’s legal team.

Official lawyer: Ozer not authorized to speak for Demirtas

Ramazan Demir, a member of Demirtas’s legal defense team, issued a response on social media: "Mesut Ozer is not one of the authorized lawyers representing (Mr.) Demirtas. His statement reflects only his personal views and expectations."

He also urged journalists and legal professionals to act with greater care when reporting on sensitive legal matters.

A protester holds a banner featuring the photo of 16-year-old high school student Yasin Boru, who was brutally killed by PKK terrorists in Diyarbakır in 2014 following Selahattin Demirtas' call for protests, with the inscription "I am Yasin Boru. I was brutally murdered while distributing sacrificial meat to the poor during Eid al-Adha, accessed on Aug. 3, 2025." (AA Photo)

Why is Demirtas in prison?

Selahattin Demirtas has been incarcerated since November 2016 on charges including inciting violence, spreading terrorist propaganda, and links to the PKK—a group designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the EU, and the US. The charges primarily stem from:

• Ayn al-Arab protests (Oct. 6–8, 2014): 37 people died in unrest after the HDP called for mass demonstrations.
• Ties to the PKK: Prosecutors accuse Demirtas of operating in coordination with the PKK and removed his parliamentary immunity to pursue charges.
• Insulting the president: In a 2015 speech at Ataturk Airport, Demirtas allegedly insulted President Erdogan and was sentenced to three years and six months.

August 03, 2025 02:06 PM GMT+03:00