Turkey objected to the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) decision on Selahattin Demirtaş’s “violation” and “release” one day before the deadline. The Justice Ministry filed an application on October 7, requesting that the decision be re-examined by the Grand Chamber of the ECHR.
Ministry officials delivered the application documents to Strasbourg. If Turkey had not appealed, the verdict would have become final on October 8, 2025.
Mahsuni Karaman, Demirtaş’s lawyer, said the government’s failure to appeal the verdict “would make sense both legally and politically.” On July 8, 2025, the ECtHR ruled that Demirtaş’s long detention was a violation of his rights. However, the Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court rejected his request for release.
Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ were arrested on November 4, 2016. The two former HDP co-chairs continue to face aggravated charges in the case related to the 2014 Kobanî protests. The ECtHR found rights violations against Demirtaş in three separate judgments in 2018, 2020 and 2025.
In the wake of Abdullah Öcalan’s recent talks with the DEM Party delegation in İmralı Prison and the PKK’s decision to lay down arms, expectations for Demirtaş’s release have increased. The process has led to comments that the government has entered a new era with the emphasis on “Terror Free Turkey”.
October 7, 2025
Euronews Turkish