About: Selahattin Demirtas
EU ‘deeply concerned’ over crackdown on pro-Kurdish party, Turkey rebuffs criticism
Turkey on Thursday (18 March) told foreign countries to keep out of its domestic affairs after Western powers uniformly condemned its bid to shut down the main pro-Kurdish party.
Erdogan slams European rights court’s ruling in support of Kurdish leader
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday (23 December) blasted the top European rights court's call for Turkey to release Kurdish political leader Selahattin Demirtaş after four years in jail.
Turkey court upholds conviction of prominent jailed Kurdish leader
A Turkish court on Tuesday (4 December) rejected an appeal by jailed pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtaş against his conviction for “terrorist propaganda”, his lawyer said, in a fresh blow to the prominent politician considered a potential rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Demirtaş,...
At tense Ankara news conference, EU rebukes Turkey over detentions
Top EU officials rebuked Turkey on Thursday (22 November) over its arrests of journalists and academics and the long pre-trial detention of a Kurdish politician, holding a forthright press conference with Turkey’s foreign minister in Ankara that quickly turned tense.
Turkey’s ‘No’ campaign defiant despite obstacles
As the clock ticks down to Turkey's landmark referendum Sunday (16 April) on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's powers, it's impossible to miss the posters for the government-backed 'Yes' campaign in Ankara and cities across the country.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition appeals to European court over detentions
Turkey's main pro-Kurdish opposition party said yesterday (20 February) it had appealed to the European Court of Human Rights over what it said was the unlawful imprisonment of its two leaders on terrorism-related charges.
MEPs urge freezing Turkey membership talks
A vast majority of the political groups in the European Parliament yesterday (22 November) said the Commission should temporarily freeze the accession talks with Turkey because of its post-coup purges - while the Commission warned that cutting ties would be a lose-lose solution.
Turkey blocks MEPs from visiting imprisoned Kurdish leader
Turkish authorities on Monday (21 November) blocked a delegation of national and European Parliament lawmakers from visiting the leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party, who has been held in jail for almost three weeks.
Erdogan demands support against PKK at NATO meeting
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (21 November) urged the European Union and West to step up backing of Ankara's fight against Kurdish militants, as he addressed a meeting of NATO lawmakers.
Tensions flare as Turks head to referendum on new Erdogan powers
Turkey is heading to a referendum on granting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan new powers as early as next spring, ratcheting up tensions amid a crackdown on dissent and pro-Kurdish politicians, analysts say.
Erdogan: ‘I don’t care if they call me dictator’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Europe yesterday (6 November) of abetting terrorism by supporting Kurdish militants and said he did not care if the continent called him a dictator.
Commission, member states admonish Turkey over Kurdish arrests
The European Union is extremely worried by Turkey's arrest of Kurdish opposition lawmakers and has called a meeting of EU national envoys in Ankara, its foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Friday (4 November).
Turkey arrests leaders of pro-Kurdish HDP party
The two joint leaders of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP) have been detained, along with at least 11 MPs, allegedly because of their reluctance to give testimony for crimes linked to “terrorist propaganda.”
Turkey detains Diyarbakır mayors on ‘terrorism’ links
A Turkish court has ordered the detention of the two mayors of Diyarbakir, the largest city in the predominantly Kurdish southeast of the country, accusing them of "terrorist" activities linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).