09.08.2026 16:41
While the framework law proposal that will establish the legal basis for the Türkiye without Terrorism process is expected to be discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Assembly tomorrow, former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Selçuk Mızraklı sent a message. In the message read by DEM Party Deputy Group Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit at the TBMM General Assembly, it was stated, 'This process is not a process of division, separation, or a give-and-take process based on cheap bargains. May God be pleased with everyone who contributes to peace and carries a drop of water to this fire.'
DEM Party Deputy Group Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit read the message sent to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Assembly by former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Selçuk Mızraklı, who are in Edirne Prison. The message stated, "This process is not one of division, separation, or a cheap bargain-based give-and-take. May God be pleased with everyone who contributes to peace and carries a drop of water to this fire, and may the law that emerges lead to good outcomes."
DEMİRTAŞ'S LETTER READ IN PARLIAMENT
The TBMM General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan. DEM Party Deputy Group Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit read the message sent to the General Assembly by former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Selçuk Mızraklı, who are convicted in Edirne Prison. The message bearing the signatures of Demirtaş and Mızraklı is as follows:
"Dear Speaker, Dear Party Leaders, Dear Members of Parliament, We greet each and every one of you with all our sincerity and extend our respects to you all. You will hopefully implement together yet another critical step of an extremely important, historic peace effort that has the potential to radically change the fate of our country and region. Of course, there will be debates, criticisms, and suggestions; each of them is valuable and contributory. However, we want it to be known that we have been part of this process and have supported it with all our strength, with all our hearts, sincerity, and seriousness, solely to strengthen and enhance the peace, prosperity, and brotherhood of 86 million people. This process is not one of division, separation, or a cheap bargain-based give-and-take.
"AS A RESULT OF 40 YEARS OF CONFLICT, ALMOST NO ONE HAS REMAINED UNWOUNDED"
No one should waste time or squander energy by seeking hidden agendas or dirty plans beneath valuable efforts. Let those who approach with suspicion or negative prejudice dig into this process as much as they want; they will find nothing beneath it other than our thousand-year-old brotherhood, our desire to embrace each other tightly, and the feeling of being Turkey together, with its Kurds and Turks. Every step taken and to be taken will also pave the way for new horizons, new reforms, and a new life.
Of course, all these efforts must continue with strong and deep-rooted reforms of democracy, justice, equality, and freedom, and should contribute to our people attaining the peaceful life they deserve and are worthy of. For this, it is highly beneficial for everyone and every segment to handle matters with great care, sensitivity, and seriousness. As a result of 40 years of conflict, almost no one has remained unwounded. Therefore, we must advance this process with a dignified, mature, and virtuous stance, without causing scenes or displays of victory or feelings and anxieties of defeat, and we must walk hand in hand toward the future by sharing our pains and leaving them behind.
THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT AND PARTY LEADERS
Dear Members of Parliament, we hope that every vote you cast will be in the direction of strengthening our peace, unity, and brotherhood, and that your criticisms and warnings are expressed on a constructive basis. We hope that this step, which we believe will lead to good outcomes for all of us, will also open new doors in politics, bringing courtesy, cooperation, and maturity. On this occasion, we would like to specially thank His Excellency President, who most strongly demonstrated political will in initiating and conducting a difficult process, and His Excellency Devlet Bahçeli, as well as especially His Excellency Abdullah Öcalan, who made great efforts for peace. We also extend our thanks to His Excellency Numan Kurtulmuş, His Excellency Özgür Özel, His Excellency Mahmut Arıkan, His Excellency Ali Babacan, His Excellency Ahmet Davutoğlu, His Excellency Erkan Baş, His Excellency Seyit Aslan, His Excellency Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and His Excellency Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, each individually, for their contributions to the ownership and healthy conduct of the process at every stage. We thank His Excellency Müsavat Dervişoğlu and His Excellency Fatih Erbakan for contributing to the process, albeit indirectly, with their negative criticisms.
"MAY THE LAW THAT EMERGES LEAD TO GOOD OUTCOMES"
And of course, we individually thank our DEM Party colleagues, who have been the motor force of the process with great sacrifices, our Co-Chairs Tuncer Bakırhan and Tülay Hatimoğulları, and our İmralı Delegation members, and on this occasion, we commemorate our friend Sırrı Süreyya Önder with mercy and gratitude, sending our warm greetings and respects to all members of parliament. We specially thank the unsung laborers who worked intensely in the kitchen of this process. May God be pleased with everyone who contributes to peace and carries a drop of water to this fire, and may the law that emerges lead to good outcomes. We once again respectfully salute the General Assembly."