The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Selahattin Demirtas was unlawfully detained and ordered his release, prompting immediate demands from Turkey's opposition, lawyers and rights groups. Demirtas, arrested on November 4, 2016 and now 52, received a 42-year sentence last year over alleged links to the 2014 Kobane protests and faces other terrorism-related and insult charges. The ECHR found breaches including Article 18 and said Turkey must comply under Article 46, while opposition parties urged prompt implementation. Observers say the ruling is legally significant and may influence ongoing efforts toward a peaceful political settlement over Kurdish rights.
ECHR Orders Release of Kurdish Leader Selahattin Demirtas — Turkish Opposition Demands Immediate Freedom
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Selahattin Demirtas was unlawfully detained and ordered his release, prompting immediate demands from Turkey's opposition, lawyers and rights groups. Demirtas, arrested on November 4, 2016 and now 52, received a 42-year sentence last year over alleged links to the 2014 Kobane protests and faces other terrorism-related and insult charges. The ECHR found breaches including Article 18 and said Turkey must comply under Article 46, while opposition parties urged prompt implementation. Observers say the ruling is legally significant and may influence ongoing efforts toward a peaceful political settlement over Kurdish rights.
21:19, 04.11.2025Politics
European Court Orders Release
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued a final ruling finding that the detention and trial of Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas violated his rights and ordering his immediate release. The decision, handed down nine years after his arrest, prompted urgent calls from Turkey's main opposition parties, human rights groups and lawyers for Ankara to implement the ruling without delay.
Background
Demirtas, now 52, was detained on November 4, 2016, at the height of his political influence on suspicion of terror-related offences. Last year, Turkish courts sentenced him to 42 years in prison over an alleged role in the deadly 2014 protests linked to the Kobane crisis. He also faces other charges, including alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and an accusation of insulting the president.
Reaction and Political Impact
Pro-Kurdish leaders and opposition parties immediately demanded his release. Tuncer Bakirhan, co-chair of the Democracy and Freedom Party (DEM), said the ECHR found the Kobane detention to be politically motivated and urged the government to comply under Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) echoed the demand, with CHP lawmaker Sezgin Tanrikulu calling for immediate implementation.
Demirtas in a handwritten letter shared on X thanked supporters and reiterated his commitment to a peaceful political path, saying that resolving past mistakes is essential to securing the future.
Legal Significance
The ECHR found breaches of fundamental rights, including a violation of Article 18 of the Convention, which prohibits detention for political purposes. Erinc Sagkan, head of the Turkish Bar Association, described the finding as rare, saying the court identified abuse of power, political intervention in proceedings and erosion of impartial judicial guarantees.
Calls for Compliance
Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD) characterised the arrests as premeditated political decisions and demanded the immediate release of Demirtas and other political detainees it said were being held unlawfully. One of Demirtas's lawyers has formally requested his release following the court order.
Even some political allies of President Erdogan signalled acceptance of the court's outcome. Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), told Turkish media that Demirtas had achieved a legal result and that his release would be a positive step for Turkey, a stance Demirtas thanked in his letter.
What Comes Next
The ECHR decision is binding on Turkey under Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The key questions now are whether Turkish authorities will implement the order promptly and how the ruling will affect ongoing negotiations and the broader domestic political landscape, including efforts to pursue a peaceful, democratic resolution to Kurdish grievances.
Note: Reporting names, dates and legal provisions are drawn from the ECHR ruling and statements by Turkish political parties and legal organisations.