Demirtas, Kavala detained unjustly, says Turkish main opposition

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The head of Turkey's main opposition party on Tuesday criticized as unjust the continued detention of businessman Osman Kavala and the former co-chair of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, Selahattin Demirtas.

"I'm saying this clearly, there are Demirtas and Kavala, who are being held unjustly (in prison). My conscience does not approve," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), told his party's parliamentary group.

Perhaps they never sympathized with the CHP, nor voted (for it) at any time in their lives. But, our duty is justice, to stand up against injustice.

Kavala faced charges over the 2013 Gezi Park protests, a small number of demonstrations in Istanbul that later transformed into nationwide protests which left eight protesters and a police officer dead. He was acquitted of all charges in February 2020, but an appeal court overturned this verdict in January.

He was also accused of involvement in the 2016 defeated coup orchestrated by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Turkey and was remanded into custody on charges of spying in March.

In November 2016, Demirtas along with 12 HDP lawmakers were arrested on terrorism-related charges. He was sentenced to nearly five years in prison in September 2018 for spreading terrorist propaganda leading a terrorist organization, and public incitement to hatred and hostility.

Turkey's government accuses the HDP of having links to the terrorist group PKK.

Demirtas was also sentenced in March to three years in prison for insulting the president, with six months added as the offense was committed publicly.

- Kilicdaroglu pledges 'democracy,' 'freedom'

Vowing to "crown" Turkey "with democracy" on its centennial in 2023, Kilicdaroglu said that his party would bring freedom to the country's young people.

"We have young people among us. Your conscience will be free, your knowledge will be free, and your mind will be free. You will be free ... Their dreams will be our goals. All young people, regardless of party, will be able to freely criticize us," said the party chief.

Kilicdaroglu also noted that the CHP did not seek the applause of young people, but "healthy and consistent criticism."

"Those who show our faults are our (real) friends," he said.

"We founded the Republic 98 years ago ... our democracy has been disrupted, but we'll compensate for this. Together, we'll crown our beautiful Republic with democracy in its centennial anniversary."

Turkey's next presidential and parliamentary elections are set to be held in 2023.