DEM Party calls for release of political prisoners from Silivri

Tülay Hatimoğulları, Co-Chair of the DEM Party, has issued a strong call for the immediate release of political prisoners after visiting Silivri Prison. Accompanied by Bitlis Deputy Hüseyin Olan, Hatimoğulları met with several individuals, including ESP Co-Chair Murat Çepni, former HDP Mayor Bekir Kaya, and Nasrullah Kuran.

Hatimoğulları specifically drew attention to the continued detention of 48 members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), a constituent party of the DEM Party. These detentions stem from an operation conducted on February 3, which initially led to the arrest of 84 socialists. Among those still imprisoned is Murat Çepni, a prominent figure and former HDP parliamentarian.

"Our 48 friends are still imprisoned," Hatimoğulları stated, emphasizing that many, including ESP Deputy Co-Chair Sezin Uçar and DEM Women's Coordination Member Fatma Çelik, have been held for 200 days. She asserted that these individuals are imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of thought, expression, and democratic action.

Hatimoğulları further argued that political prisoners are unjustly incarcerated for advocating for a just and democratic order, demanding an end to violence against women, and defending the rights of workers, the poor, and farmers. She connected their imprisonment to their solidarity with those seeking disappeared loved ones and their opposition to past massacres, including the 2015 Suruç bombing and the 2010 Ankara train station bombing, stating they are imprisoned for defending the right to life.