Demirtaş hits back at Erdoğan over 'execution' slogans during re-election speech

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Imprisoned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş has issued a statement on Twitter addressing the incident in which the crowd chanted "execution for Selo" during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's victory speech at the Presidential Complex on Sunday.

"With the intoxication of a fraudulent and fake victory, the old king who continues to slander, threaten, and insult from the balcony of his luxurious palace, and a lynching mob dizzy with lies and pleasure, all together shouting 'execution'," wrote Demirtaş.

"This incident is not taking place in the France of the past. It is the year 2023, the place is Ankara.

"I would say, 'You cannot even hang my coat,' but it is not even worth mentioning. I will only say this: I am the descendant of the great Kurdish Commander Salahaddin Ayyubi, the conqueror of Jerusalem, whose name I bear. When the time comes, I promise to treat everyone fairly."

Delivering a speech late Sunday following his victory in the presidential runoff vote, Erdoğan had labeled Demirtaş a "terrorist," saying, "You cannot release Selo as you wish; such a thing is not possible during our government."

The crowd briefly echoed the sentiment, chanting "execution for Selo."

Demirtaş, the former co-leader of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), has been behind bars since November 2016. Court in Turkey have refused to release him despite ECtHR verdicts, which has drawn international criticism.

The opposition candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, had promised to comply with the European court's order for Demirtaş's release. (AÖ/VK)