08.11.2025 18:53
The former co-chair of the HDP, Selahattin Demirtaş, who is detained in Edirne Prison, made a call to Erdoğan, Bahçeli, and Öcalan. Demirtaş said, "As a brother and a politician striving for peace, I appeal to the main actors of the process: President Erdoğan, MHP leader Bahçeli, and PKK founding leader Öcalan; please do not give up on taking concrete steps, and do not pay attention to what others say."
```html
Selahattin Demirtaş, the former Co-Chair of the HDP, who is detained in Edirne Prison, made statements regarding the Terror-Free Turkey process on his social media account.
Demirtaş addressed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, MHP leader Bahçeli, and Abdullah Öcalan, saying, "Please do not stop taking concrete steps, do not pay attention to what others say, trust yourselves, and believe that 86 million people are eagerly waiting for peace."
"PUT AN END TO THIS ISSUE BY GOING TO IMRALI"
Addressing the members of parliament, Demirtaş stated, "You have sent our youth to the mountains and cross-border operations for years. You have placed the greatest risk on their shoulders, and unfortunately, some of them have paid the price with their lives and blood. Now that we have the opportunity to take risks and end this conflict fundamentally, please take a little risk as well and go to Imralı Island to put an end to this issue. Moreover, the risk you will take is not a life risk like our youth, but a small political risk," he expressed.
Demirtaş's full statement is as follows:
"A man goes to the doctor and explains his ailments. The doctor asks if he is using any medication regularly. The man names a medication and says, 'I use that.' The doctor then asks, 'You know that medication is addictive, right?' The man replies, 'Well, doctor, I have been using that medication every day for almost 15 years, and I have never seen it cause addiction.'
By doing the same things every day, thinking the same way, and speaking the same way, we can neither change nor alter anything. We cannot even realize the clichés, templates, and taboos we are stuck in. If no one moves even a step from where they stand, we cannot create new and creative solutions.
The place we are stuck in is the pain, anger, prejudices, and the insecurities caused by the 40-year conflict environment. I am not saying these are insignificant, but if we cannot find ways to overcome them and heal our wounds, we will not even realize our "addictions," and we will struggle to reach a deep and lasting solution.
"NOT A SINGLE ONE OF OUR CHILDREN HAS SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE IN VAIN"
In a social reality where sacrificing one's life for beliefs, thoughts, and ideals is sanctified, we face two fundamental difficulties. The first is that we cannot and should not erase the moral pressure of the precious memory of those who have sacrificed their lives and the values they created by giving their lives. The second is that if many lives have been sacrificed for a thought or belief, that thought and belief does not automatically become "correct" sociologically and politically, but we struggle to accept this. While so many lives have been sacrificed for the homeland, the flag, ideology, or organization, we fear and hesitate to think and do new things for this reason. However, at some point, we need to be convinced that at this stage, not a single one of our children has sacrificed their life in vain. If we focus on creating a "brotherhood law" based on equality, justice, freedom, and democracy in the ongoing process, it means that the memory of those we have lost will not be tarnished.
"THE MAIN ACTORS OF THE PROCESS..."
Therefore, I address all parties and the main actors of the process, President Erdoğan, MHP leader Bahçeli, and PKK founding leader Öcalan, as your brother and a politician striving for peace; please do not stop taking concrete steps, do not pay attention to what others say, trust yourselves, and believe that 86 million people are eagerly waiting for peace."
"LET'S ACT COURAGEOUSLY TOGETHER"
Moreover, people waiting to completely lay down their arms and come down from the mountains want to see that Abdullah Öcalan, whom they define as their "leader," is visited and listened to not only by security forces but also by politicians, and they want to see that a return to politics is possible and that the state is sincere and serious about this, so they can trust and completely lay down their arms.
I also want to address the esteemed members of parliament; you have sent our youth to the mountains and cross-border operations for years. You have placed the greatest risk on their shoulders, and unfortunately, some of them have paid the price with their lives and blood. Now that we have the opportunity to take risks and fundamentally end this conflict, please take a little risk as well and go to Imralı Island to put an end to this issue. Moreover, the risk you will take is not a life risk like our youth, but a small political risk.
Let’s act courageously together, and please do not jeopardize this historic opportunity for peace by getting stuck in our clichés and fears in the final stretch.
I send my heartfelt greetings and love to all of you, and I hope to meet in days filled with freedom, peace, democracy, and brotherhood as soon as possible."
```