“You have not seated only Selahattin Demirtas in the defendant’s seat. Six million people feel they are in the defendant’s chair,” he told the court, referring to supporters who voted for his HDP.
Demirtas, 44, was brought to court on Wednesday on charges of “leading a terrorist organization,” “inciting hate,” and “campaigning for a terrorist attack.” His trial continued Thursday for a second day.
HDP has accused the ruling AKP of Recep Tayyip Erdogan of targeting the party which has stood in staunch opposition to what it describes increasing “authoritarianism” of the president.
Demirtas commented on the barring of foreign observers from the courtroom. On Wednesday, Germany’s Ambassador to Turkey Martin Erdmann was among those denied entry to the court.
“This is not a secret dossier. Anyone can observe,” said Demirtas. “If all those who wanted to attend were allowed, there would be at least 500,000.”
HDP’s new co-chair Sezai Temelli raised the case of the party’s imprisoned members with Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, in a meeting on Thursday.
