The HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) deputies who are held hostage sent messages from prisons on the occasion of the 4 November coup.

The messages of the HDP politicians held prisoners after the political coup which led to the detentions of thousands of HDP members are as follows:

Burcu Celik Ozkan:

"After 2014 the Kurdish political movement and the Kurdish politics for the people have exposed even further the deep economic, political, cultural and social crisis in Turkey. If we look at more recent times, the policies imposed on people are actually making the possibility of a solution and of breaking the deadlock more difficult. In this sense the aim of the people of Turkey should be a shared life and unity. In this way, all the "buts" and "ifs" would be set aside and all sections could be brought together on a democratic basis. The building of a shared future is not that difficult. It is a responsibility of all of us to end the chaos of this world system and start the construction of a more democratic, more pluralistic, more social system.

We are good and in good spirit. We believe we will meet in free days. I convey love, respect and greetings to everyone".

Figen Yüksekdağ:

"I greet you all with love, respect, longing and devotion and the determination that two years of confinement cannot erode.

I know that you are struggling with hope and resistance outside against our imprisonment. The HDP has been a symbol of resistance and a symbol of the future for a society that has experienced almost all attacks, persecution, injustices for two years. We, too, as people's politicians held hostage, have never forgotten where we get this solidity from. We have worked for the freedom of women, the memories and bequests of our immortals, the values ​​of labor, freedom, peace, and for our people and voters.

We will continue to be at the heart of our rightful and honorable struggle. Those who think they will imprison us in dungeons, have seen that they are mistaken, and will see it again. But they will never learn because they never know how to learn a lesson. The mission is yours, mine, ours. We are the only option against this power, which has lost its possibility of development and survival and is underminining and taking the country down with it. Turkey's hopes and future are represented by the HDP, a future without attacks, imprisonment. We may be inside or outside (of prison), but the main thing that unites us is that we hear and feed this belief and enthusiasm.

I greet you once more with this faith and enthusiasm. Resisting we won, we will win again."

Gültan Kışanak:

"On 4 November all the democratic opposition was targeted in Turkey in what was the largest political genocide operation in history. On 7 June 2015, there was an attempt to block the course of powerful democratic politics. The will of the people in local government was replaced by the trustee mentality, the attempt being of repressing all social opposition and general politics. It started with the intimidation of all opposition and resistance, beginning with Kurds. Women were told: "You have no place in politics, go back and sit where you belong. If you do not accept to be trapped in house life, you live in prison". Kurds were threatened: "You are banned from making politics". All the people of Turkey were told: "Don't get any common politics with Kurds". They wanted to impose the black color of fascism on those who wished to cultivate a colorful garden.

It was a political coup, aimed at all the people who struggled to remain human. Not one word was tolerated. But time has made it very clear: There are people who hope and believe in a democratic, libertarian, peaceful future.

We are inside; our people, all the democracy forces are resisting and winning. The will of the people can not be confined to the four walls. It is a flowing river. "

İdris Baluken:

"The unlawful political genocide operation, which is referred to as the political coup of 4 November, continues with the same repression and methods in the current period.

The current political, economic, social and legal crisis has a direct relationship with the 4 November coup and the narrowing of the democratic political sphere. Nevertheless, neither our party could be liquidated, nor could the will of our people be broken. All our friends, who were thrown into the prison as a result of unlawful arrests, showed their insistence on democratic politics and the will of peace.

This two-year period has increased the hope, faith and determination of our party, our people, both inside and outside. The commitment to the struggle for democracy and freedom has written pages of history. Fearful of our thoughts, the power represses and attacks us in order to maintain their power.

It is obvious that peace will prevail in this ancient land. No matter the difficulties and conditions, with the strength we draw from our legitimacy and rightfulness, we once again promise all our peoples that we will be protecting our will for peace, democracy and freedom, and give the struggle that this will requires.

We believe that we will meet with our halay (dance) of peace on a bright, free morning, with the awareness that after every night a new day will arise."

Selahattin Demirtaş and Abdullah Zeydan:

"We have left behind the second year since the 4 November 2016 coup against democratic politics.

Those who put us in prison saying that they would solve the problems have actually doubled and deepened the problems in every field in these two years. We persistently continue our struggle for democracy, freedom and peace.

The 4 November political coup against HDP has not brought any results. Despite all the pressures, HDP is stronger today than it was yesterday.

Turkey's whole society should know this. There should not be complicity in causing the greatest harm to the country and society by remaining silent against those who hold us hostage in deprivation of justice and law. We will not be the only ones to get harmed where justice collapses. The whole society and the state are degenerating and decaying more than ever.

Those who risk the collapse of the state and society by approving the unlawfulness against the HDP have unfortunately taken the management of the state in their hands. However, the conscience of society and its common sense will sooner or later stop this mad mindlessness. The principles of democracy and peace, justice and equality will surely prevail in the country. We will continue our struggle in this direction in the most determined way".

Çağlar Demirel – Selma Irmak

"We see that the operation, which can be described as the seizure of the people's will coup on 4 November 2016 is continuing today. In fact, 141 politicians were detained and 25 of them were arrested during the Diyarbakir-based operation in the recent weeks. We see that a policy of terror is implemented against Kurds who are described as criminals and enemies. This policy is in fact aimed at preventing the socialization of Kurdish politics, and the common struggle for democracy and equality.

As jailed politicians we make this call: "You didn't get any results through repression, you dragged the country to a cliff. This situation should be reversed. Freedom and security conditions should be ensured by removing the isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan, and the democratic solution and negotiation process should restart.

Our message to our people, women friends and youth: It is possible to succeed as long as the resistance is not abandoned. We will resist and we will win.”