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reThe European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered the immediate release of pro-Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas from custody in Turkey. This was decided by the Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg Court on Tuesday (complaint number 14305/17). The right to freedom of expression and the right to liberty and security have been violated, among other things, the court ruled. Turkey also has to pay Demirtas a total of € 60,400 for economic losses, non-pecuniary damages and compensation for costs and expenses.
Demirtas is 47 years old and a former chairman of the pro-Kurdish HDP party. In early November 2016, he and his then co-boss Figen Yüksekdag were arrested. Demirtas’ immunity as a deputy had previously been lifted. There are numerous lawsuits against the politician. In what is known as the main trial, Demirtas is accused, among other things, of belonging to a terrorist organization.
The imprisonment of Demirtas during the referendum for a presidential system in Turkey in 2017 and the presidential elections in 2018 had the specific purpose of repressing pluralism and restricting freedom of political debate, the ECHR said in its ruling.
In 2018, the Strasbourg court ordered the politician’s release because the prolonged pre-trial detention was not justified. Turkey did not carry out the sentence. The case ended before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, that is, before the highest instance of the Strasbourg court.
Now a new arrest warrant has been issued for Demirtas. According to the court, the politician’s request to the ECHR is still pending. As a member of the Council of Europe, Turkey must implement the ECHR rulings.
