Selahattin Demirtaş shares a message for Sırrı Süreyya Önder! 'He will not die without seeing this peace'

Former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who has been held in Edirne Prison for 8.5 years, wrote a letter for Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who was taken into surgery overnight after suffering a heart condition and whose health remains critical.

Stating that Önder had put forth great effort for peace and had been mistreated many times because of it, Demirtaş noted that Önder had also fallen ill when he visited him in Edirne Prison.

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— Selahattin Demirtaş (@hdpdemirtas) April 16, 2025

"He was deeply hurt by unfair attacks and insults, but he swallowed them all and walked the path of peace with persistence. That is why his merit and value are immense," said Demirtaş, whose message reads as follows:

"Being an envoy for peace is a difficult task. Beyond all kinds of political calculations; you put your heart on the line so that mothers and fathers do not experience the pain of losing their children, but most of the time, this is not appreciated. They drag you through the mud, they bruise your heart, they try to play with your honor. But if you are loyally committed to peace, you do not take a step back, you never give up. Your only wish is to see peace before you die.

'HE FELL ILL DURING A PRISON VISIT'

We were in a prison visit. Sırrı Bey suddenly fell ill, his face turned white, and he clutched his heart. We got worried, the guards tried to call an ambulance, but he didn't allow it. He went out to the corridor to get some air. My eyes and those of Ahmet Türk and Pervin Buldan filled with tears; in the elegance of our conversation about peace in that cramped prison meeting room, Sırrı Bey tried to adopt the joy of all times past and said, 'Ahmet Abi, there is no dying for us before we put this peace matter on the right track! We gave our word when we entered here, 'peace first, if we die, it is God's command'.'

In that state, Sırrı Bey went outside and made the statement 'we are walking with our hearts in our hands' in front of Edirne Prison, and it was truly so.

'HE WORKED HARDER FOR PEACE THAN IS KNOWN'

Everyone, Kurd and Turk alike, should know that; this big-hearted son of the Turkish people worked harder for peace than is known, put in great effort, and never acted ugly or thought cheaply. He was deeply hurt by unfair attacks and insults, but he swallowed them all and walked the path of peace with persistence. That is why his merit and value are immense.

Sırrı Bey will stay on his feet. This peace will surely happen, and I hope he will proudly stand tall with the results of his own efforts.

You are one of those who deserve this the most, Sırrı Abi; our prayers and our hearts are with you. We love you, dear brother."