The co-chairs of the DEM party, Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, visited imprisoned politicians in Kandıra and Edirne. In Kandıra high-security prison near Kocaeli, the DEM co-chairs visited former HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ as well as politicians Gültan Kışanak, Semra Güzel and Nurhayat Altun. A conversation with former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and politician Selçuk Mızraklı took place on Friday in Edirne High Security Prison.

As Hatimoğulları and Bakırhan announced after their visit to Kandıra, they had an exchange on political developments in Turkey and the region with Figen Yüksekdağ, Gültan Kışanak, Nurhayat Altun and Semra Güzel. “We are in a time of multiple crises with political, economic and social dimensions and have sought opinions and suggestions from our comrades on our party policy and the upcoming local elections,” said the DEM co-chairs. “Our comrades said that they will continue to resist and send greetings to all peoples of Turkey.”

During the visit to Edirne, the co-chairs of the DEM party said that they had expressed their condolences to Selahattin Demirtaş on behalf of their party, the people, the alliance forces, civil society organizations and all friendly circles. Demirtaş had just lost his father. The former co-chair thanked the two party leaders.

Hatimoğulları and Bakırhan said: “We had an exchange of views about the necessary steps for a solution to the historical and political problems of Turkey, and in particular the Kurdish question. We also talked about the hunger strike in the prisons and our strategy for the local elections. Our comrades have made a strong contribution to our party with their suggestions and will continue to do so.”

The two co-chairs ended their statement by saying that “the comrades we visited in both prisons are in good morale and are determined to fight. In order to define our party policy for the coming period with a common understanding, we will hold further discussions with our comrades. Our fight for their freedom will continue.”