Jailed HDP presidential candidate Demirtas slams Turkish media
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Selahattin Demirtas, the presidential candidate of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who is running for office from his prison cell, has accused Turkish media of neglecting his campaign and of having a pro-government bias.
In a tweet, Demirtas said: “Do Turkish media outlets know there is an election in Turkey? Do they know there is a candidate who is in jail while you put all efforts behind the candidate in power?”
“Your salary is paid by nation while you serve only one person,” he said, specifically targeting government-owned media outlets. “You cannot dare to talk about me even in one news story.”
Turkey’s independent media has seen a decline in recent years as companies with ties to the ruling AK Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have bought them out. Critics say they have become pliant and uncritical of government policy as a result.
Demirtas was jailed in November 2016 alongside 11 HDP lawmakers over alleged ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a named terrorist organization. On Friday, HDP leaders urged Turkey’s Constitutional Court to order his swift release.
Mahsuni Karaman, a lawyer for Demirtas, said on Twitter they hope the court will release Demirtas in a few days, “a ruling that will hold a light to this dark political environment.”
“This country will be dragged into deepening crises if the opposite of this happens,” Temelli warned during a gathering three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the prison where Demirtas is being held.
Turkey will hold its snap presidential election on June 24 in which six candidates including Demirtas and Erdogan will compete.
In a tweet, Demirtas said: “Do Turkish media outlets know there is an election in Turkey? Do they know there is a candidate who is in jail while you put all efforts behind the candidate in power?”
“Your salary is paid by nation while you serve only one person,” he said, specifically targeting government-owned media outlets. “You cannot dare to talk about me even in one news story.”
Turkey’s independent media has seen a decline in recent years as companies with ties to the ruling AK Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have bought them out. Critics say they have become pliant and uncritical of government policy as a result.
Demirtas was jailed in November 2016 alongside 11 HDP lawmakers over alleged ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a named terrorist organization. On Friday, HDP leaders urged Turkey’s Constitutional Court to order his swift release.
“The Constitutional Court must meet to discuss this case and, taking into account electoral rights and eligibility, order his release at once,” HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli said during a protest in the northwestern province of Edirne.
Mahsuni Karaman, a lawyer for Demirtas, said on Twitter they hope the court will release Demirtas in a few days, “a ruling that will hold a light to this dark political environment.”
“This country will be dragged into deepening crises if the opposite of this happens,” Temelli warned during a gathering three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the prison where Demirtas is being held.
Turkey will hold its snap presidential election on June 24 in which six candidates including Demirtas and Erdogan will compete.