Istanbul, July 30, 2015 (AFP) – Turkish judicial authorities opened an investigation Thursday against the pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas for “disturbing public order” and “incitement to violence,” said the government agency Anatolia.
The charges against Mr Demirtas date back to October 2014, but the opening of this investigation comes amid offensive of the Islamic-conservative power against Kurdish rebels. If it was found, Mr. Demirtas could face up to 24 years in prison, according to Anatolia.
Mr. Demirtas heads the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), considered one of the big winners of the parliamentary elections of June 7 With 13% of the vote and 80 elected, he has partly prevented the Islamic-conservative ruling party to retain an absolute majority in Parliament.
Since then, Mr. Demirtas is a favorite target of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused of supporting “terrorism”. According to the Anatolia news agency, the prosecutor of Diyarbakir (south-east) launched proceedings against the HDP leader for his alleged role in the violence that occurred in October 2014.
Demonstrations, which the HDP had called, were held throughout the country to protest against the lack of support of the Turkish power in the Syrian Kurds threatened by the fighters of the Islamic State Group (EI). At least 35 people, including two policemen, were killed in the protests.
In a Thursday interview with AFP, Mr Demirtas accused Erdogan of pursuing a policy of “showing off” by claiming now fight against EI, to please the West. He also insisted that “the HDP is not the political wing of the PKK,” the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which multiplies the guerrilla operations against the security forces.
According to the HDP, power seeking to destabilize the country to create a Legitimist reflex in case of possible early elections.
Ara © armenews.com