Selahattin Demirtaş responds to Bülent Arınç's claims! He announces his decision
Former Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç, who visited imprisoned former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, claimed that Demirtaş told him, 'I will not consider running for office from now on.' Demirtaş has responded to Arınç's statement.
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Former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who is imprisoned in Edirne Prison, has responded to the statements made by former Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç, who visited him.
Refuting Arınç's claims without naming him, Demirtaş stated, "I view the thoughts attributed to me, which were made with the intention of distortion, fabrication, and deception, with astonishment and sadness."
— Selahattin Demirtaş (@hdpdemirtas) November 20, 2025
The full text of Demirtaş's statement is as follows:
"Greetings,
There are a thousand difficulties in being held in a cell for 9 years without having committed a crime. However, being a part of the people's freedom, democracy, and peace struggle provides the strength to endure all difficulties and a will of steel.
What challenges me the most is that words and thoughts that I did not even sign off on are attributed to me and conveyed to the public outside. I am not going to question the intentions of those who do this, but everyone should know and be certain of this; I entered here with my honor, with my head held high, and I will leave without letting anyone trample on my honor, again with my head held high, or I will remain here until the last day of my life. There is no alternative to this for me.
No one has the authority to speak on my behalf, even with good intentions; I already share my thoughts with the public when necessary. No statement, comment, or thought that I have not shared directly binds me. I view the thoughts attributed to me, which were made with the intention of distortion, fabrication, and deception, with astonishment and sadness. Unfortunately, due to the disadvantage of being in prison, this has been done for years, and even trying to correct each one turns into a separate burden.
Asking for your understanding, I would like to state that from now on, I will not meet with politicians or lawyers, except for my own friends. Because there is no other way to prevent these distortions and abuses.
With sincere greetings and love to you all…
S. Demirtaş"
WHAT HAPPENED?
Bülent Arınç, who claimed that Selahattin Demirtaş wanted to meet with AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after his release and that he had no plans to return to active politics, used the following expressions while recounting the dialogues that took place during his meeting with Demirtaş:
"I told him that from now on, I will never think about running for office, politics, or anything like that, but I want to promise him that I will do whatever I can for my country. I said, 'I hope so,' to him as well, and we said our goodbyes."