AKP's Ekinci's Demirtaş statement: Sentence conditions are gone, he can return to politics

AKP Istanbul MP ​​and TBMM Internal Affairs Commission Member Azmi Ekinci made a statement to Rudaw regarding the PKK's decision to dissolve and disarm.

SELAHATTİN DEMİRTAŞ'S RESPONSE

Ekinci responded to a question about the detention of former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş by saying, “In today’s conjuncture, it would not be right to treat Demirtaş as a criminal since the conditions under which Selahattin Demirtaş was sentenced have been eliminated. He has repeatedly stated that he supported the process from the beginning to the end. Demirtaş and people like him can return to politics.”

Ekinci said the following about the PKK's dissolution decision:

“The decision of an organization that we have defined as the PKK terrorist organization to lay down its arms and dissolve itself is an extremely positive and important development for Türkiye and the region.

“MR. ÖCALAN RESPONDED POSITIVELY”

“First of all, those who have taken responsibility on this issue, especially Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, who took a significant risk and took great risks and made a statement on October 22, and our President made statements supporting him and stood behind him until the end.

“Following the call made to Mr. Öcalan, he also responded positively and as of yesterday, the PKK made a statement and made the decision to terminate the party, which is an extremely important situation. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this.”

“THE DEMANDS THAT CAUSE TERROR WILL NOW BE DISCUSSED AT THE TABLE”

Ekinci said the following about the steps to be taken in the future:

“Whatever demands and requests that caused terrorism and that terrorism took as its reason and justification, after he dissolves himself today, those demands and requests will be discussed at the table from now on.

“Not only the terrorist organization, but also the Kurdish people have had certain demands and requests up until now. Those demands and requests will be discussed in the parliament and these issues will be discussed in detail with the participation of all parties in the parliamentary environment and this work will be finalized and crowned with the making of a constitution in a democratic environment, as our President has always said and Mr. Bahçeli has always mentioned in his calls.

“THE FOUNDER OF THE ORGANIZATION, MR. ÖCALAN, DECLARED THAT HE SHOULD DISMISS HIMSELF”

Ekinci responded to the question of whether he was concerned that the PKK would abandon its decision to lay down its arms as follows:

“The founder of this organization is Mr. Öcalan. Its founder and leader made a call. He said that the PKK had run its course, had fallen into repetition since the 90s, and that the PKK had become meaningless with its approach to business as a blood feud. Therefore, he declared that he had to dissolve himself. In other words, in terms of Abdullah Öcalan, this organization was actually finished by its founder and leader.

“After Abdullah Öcalan’s statement, I don’t think the PKK and its components will object to this, but even if they did, from now on these people will be marginalized and doomed to melt away, and they will not be successful. The paste is out of the tube. From now on, whoever stands against this, whoever stands against this wind, will be finished.

“CERTAIN THINGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED CRIMES WILL NO LONGER BE CRIMES”

Ekinci responded to the question, “Is it possible for names like Salahattin Demirtaş to return to political life in the near future and for their detention to end?” as follows:

“Now blood feuds happen, then they sit at the peace table and make peace. The requirements of that peace are fulfilled. Now there is a similar situation here. The organization has now decided to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. It has made this decision for a terror-free Türkiye and to ensure the construction of a democratic society. After making this decision, the blood feud is over. From now on, the requirements of this will be fulfilled.

“A new constitution issue, that is, the work to be done at the center of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The subsequent constitution, when some changes are made, will no longer be crimes, as some things that were previously considered crimes.

“IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT TO STILL TREAT DEMİRTAŞ AS A GUILTY BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS OF THAT DAY HAVE DIDN’T EXIST”

"So when a person gives up on his own mistake, there is no point in treating him as if he is still in that mistake. This has never happened anywhere in the world, and it never will. This is something that foolish and illogical people would do.

“For what crimes was Salahattin Demirtaş sentenced? In today’s conjuncture, since the conditions of that day have disappeared, it would not be right to still treat Selahattin Demirtaş as a criminal.

“Moreover, he supported the process from the beginning to the end and explained this many times. He is one of the people who I think will contribute to this in the future process in Turkish politics. He can return to politics, he can be an actor in politics, like Demirtaş and people like him.”

Source: Rudaw