Jailed HDP co-chair accesses Twitter via aides

EDİRNE

Jailed co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has shared a series of tweets via his official Twitter account, prompting surprise among many of his followers. 

“Hello valuable friends. I will try to address you from here from time to time,” Demirtaş’s tweet read on Sept. 16, a first since 10 months. 

No tweets had been shared from his Twitter account since he was arrested on Nov. 4, 2016 over his alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and faces hundreds of years in jail. 

The social media account is being managed by Demirtaş’s lawyers and party managers. 

“I want you to know that my health is in good condition and my spirits are very strong,” said Demirtaş, who is being kept in a jail in the western province of Edirne. 

“My friends will collect and convey your views, suggestions and criticisms from here to me,” he said. 

“Fascism is a threat on the people of the country … The struggle for democracy will continue,” Demirtaş noted.

“We will continue our struggle for democracy and freedoms in a determined and brave way until fascism is no longer a threat for the people of our country. I’m sending lots of love to all of you. We will definitely win” he added.