Selahattin Demirtas

Selahattin Demirtaş, the imprisoned chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has said he would rather wear a shroud than wear a uniform in court appearances, in response to a new measure that has been imposed by the government.

A court in the Turkish capital Ankara on Dec. 7 started hearing the case of jailed Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who was absent from the first hearing.

Jailed Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş was acquitted on Nov. 30 of “insulting a public official” over his remarks about former Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Jailed co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has shared a series of tweets via his official Twitter account, prompting surprise among many of his followers. 

"Hello valuable friends. I will try to address you from here from time to time," Demirtaş's tweet read on Sept. 16, a first since 10 months. 

An Istanbul prosecutor has launched an investigation against Sezgin Tanrıkulu, a prominent lawmaker from the ranks of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), over his claims that civilians had been killed by armed drones as part of the anti-terror fight in Turkey's southeastern region.

A court in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır ordered the release of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kars deputy Ayhan Bilgen on Sept. 8, eight months after he was arrested as a part of a terror investigation.

The presidential election of 2019 will be a turning point for Turkey, as it is then that the country will transition to the presidential system. After 2019, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wants to rule the country for 10 more years through the system that he is the architect of. 

Council of Europe Group of the Unified European Left Chairman Tiny Kox on Aug. 25 sent a letter to Turkish Parliament Spokesperson İsmail Kahraman urging "respect" for the rights of elected lawmakers currently in prison.

The jailed co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, and party deputy Abdullah Zeydan have submitted fresh petitions to the Parliament Speaker's Office and the Justice Ministry, demanding an end to handcuffing during their transfers to courts and hospitals. 

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have begun preparations for snap elections, jailed HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has claimed.