Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas who is running his election campaign from his prison cell in Edirne has appealed to UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for support, inviting him to Ankara as a guest of the HDP.

“A visit to Turkey by Mr Corbyn to Turkey would be meaningful in this context,” Demirtas said, representing a major boost to the party and democracy in the country.

In the letter published by the Morning Star, Demirtaş said; “We hope that after the election we will be in government and we will be able to host him. But in any case we would be happy to welcome him as our guest as the HDP in Ankara.”

Demirtaş stressed the importance of next month’s elections, not only for the future of Turkey but for world politics. The country borders Syria and Erdogan’s illegal invasion of the peaceful people of Afrin has destabilised the area with an ethnic cleansing operation being waged against Kurds.

“For Turkey to have a meaningful contribution to peace in the Middle East and globally, an alternative needs to come to power that will implement more intelligent policies than we see under the AKP government,” he said.

He explained that he spends most of his time working on his election campaign and remained optimistic about his release, saying: “I will continue my political struggle when I get out.”

Demirtas stressed the importance of international support for him, the HDP and the people of Turkey. “Solidarity is a source of morale and a platform to breathe,” he said.