Selahattin Demirtas

The Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) held its first parliamentary group meeting in the absence of its co-chairs and eight deputies on Nov. 8, after they were arrested last week on terror charges.

A local court in the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakır ordered the arrest of Democratic Unity Party (DBP) co-head Sebahat Tuncel on Nov. 6, two days after she was detained by police in front of the courthouse.

Eleven members of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were taken into police custody from their homes in the early hours of Nov. 4, including co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, who were arrested by courts later in the day.

Europe has criticized the detentions of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers and co-chairs. 

The high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, reacted to the detentions of HDP lawmakers.

Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, the co-leaders of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), and 10 lawmakers from the party were detained early on Nov. 4 in a move that threatens further instability for the country.

The efforts by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) to effect a constitutional shift from Turkey's parliamentary system to an executive-presidential one have stepped up with support from Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is engaged in a "filthy bargain" with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over shifting Turkey to a presidential system, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has said. 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has issued a call for joint resistance against fascism during a speech on Oct. 13 at the opening of the congress of Syriza, the main partner in Greece's government, in Athens.

He said Greece, Turkey and other regional countries were experiencing a difficult period, noting that they paid big prices. 

The co-chair of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has called the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) "stupid," while commenting on the failed July 15 coup attempt.

Selahattin Demirtaş, a co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey, met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani in northern Iraq on Sept. 21, with HDP deputy Nimetullah Erdoğmuş saying Demirtaş "requested support" from the KRG head.