Jailed HDP co-chair Demirtaş’s book of short stories sells fast in Turkey
ISTANBUL
A selection of short stories written by Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has sold at least 70,000 copies nationwide, entering its fifth print run in 10 days.
Demirtaş, who is currently in an F-type prison in the northwestern province of Edirne facing charges of terror and having links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) after being detained on Nov. 4, 2016, wrote the book titled “Seher” while in jail.
“I composed the stories for many days, sometimes months, in my mind. I wrote all of them late at night, before dawn,” Demirtaş told daily Evrensel.
The HDP co-leader also drew two illustrations that are printed in the book.
The book’s publisher, Dipnot, has said it will also soon be made available for online orders for readers living outside Turkey.
The selection, which is 144 pages long and includes a message from Demirtaş on sexism, is made up of 12 stories mostly focusing on the troubles of women.
“The message I wanted to convey is for men, though the book is dedicated to women. In the book I wanted to highlight not just women’s tragedy, but men’s cruelty,” Demirtaş told Evrensel.
