The EU is concerned … now with the official registration of Turkish coffee as a “traditional product name”. It’s never too late to start döner again.
In this week’s recap:
Court weighs Demirtaş release
Peace commission delays meeting
Istanbul hosts Gaza summit
Domestic and diplomatic wraps
Man arrested for walking woman on leash
Also from us this week:
Diego Cupolo on Turkey’s challenges in accessing the EU’s defense loan program
Sinem Adar gauges the state of Turkey-PKK peace talks on Recap radio
Next week: Former US Amb. James Jeffrey joins our podcast to discuss Syrian Pres. Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington and the implications for Turkey.
Watch the livestream here on Nov. 11 at 0900 EST / 1400 UTC / 1700 TRT.
The Turkey-PKK peace process is making strides if you believe the hype-makers. That is pro-government media like Anadolu Agency, whose microphones are making more appearances at DEM Party press events these days.
From small signals to big statements, efforts to end Turkey’s longest-running conflict appear to be making progress as political discourse this week turned to the release prospects for former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş.
What happened: Demirtaş has been jailed for more than nine years along with HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ on an array of terror-related charges, including a conviction last year for inciting the 2014 Kobani protests.
On Monday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected Turkey’s appeal for Demirtaş’ imprisonment, which the court has repeatedly framed as political in its rulings for his immediate release.
Speaking to reporters the next day, MHP chair Devlet Bahçeli said Demirtaş’ release “would be beneficial” for Turkey. The surprise statement was quickly reiterated by MHP Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız and supported by CHP chair Özgür Özel.
For his part, Demirtaş responded with a hand-written note, thanking Bahçeli for “bravely” breaking a taboo.
Pres. Erdoğan weighed in Wednesday, saying the process has reached a “new juncture” before calling on everyone to “step up and do their part.”
Hours later, DEM Party co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları held a press conference after meeting with Demirtaş in Edrine Prison, stating: “Demirtaş, Yüksekdağ and all our friends detained in the Kobani case must be released immediately.”
What’s next: Demirtaş’ lawyers said they applied to the Ankara Regional Court of Justice for his release Tuesday.
Now it’s a judicial procedure, according to Turkish Justice Min. Yılmaz Tunç, who Wednesday said the ECHR decision will be evaluated when it arrives, adding: “We will all have to wait for this process together.”
Erdoğan also put the ball in the court’s … court, stating Wednesday: “We will comply with whatever the judiciary says.”
Kerem Altıparmak, co-founder of Turkey’s Freedom of Expression Association and legal consultant to the International Commission of Jurists, said there is “no excuse” to keep Demirtaş in prison though previous Turkish court appeals to his release were based on two grounds:
“One of them was that the European court’s judgment was not final,” Altıparmak told Turkey recap. “The second one was that the judgment was about his detention, but now he’s convicted, so we’ll see whether they will keep the second argument to reject his [release order].”
Altıparmak said he believed there is now a “legal obligation” to free Demirtaş. When asked if a release order may be extended to Yüksekdağ and other Kobani trial defendants, he responded:
“It would be very optimistic … even if the court decides to release Demirtaş,” he said. “It will take some extra time to get a positive decision for Yüksekdağ and others.”
All That Imralı Matters: Peace commission delays meeting
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Turkey recap to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.