Erdoğan scolds Spanish journo for Kavala, Demirtaş question

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 13 held a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following their closed-door meeting in Madrid under the scope of the eighth bilateral Turkey-Spain summit.  

While taking questions from the press, a journalist from the daily El Pais asked President Erdoğan about the continued imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala, noting that European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings were being ignored. 

In response, Erdoğan stated, "Turkey is a state of law. Regarding the individuals you mentioned, our judiciary has made its decision within its legal framework." Erdoğan claimed that one of these individuals "was responsible for the deaths of over 100 young people" and "caused deaths in the southeast through terrorism."

Erdoğan scolded the journalist for the question, saying, “It deeply saddens us that a journalist would defend these terrorists in such a manner.”

The president continued, “You probably don’t live in Turkey. We live in Turkey. These steps are taken to ensure peace in the region and will continue in this manner."

During the press conference, the leaders also commanded each other for their stance on Gaza. Sanchez noted that Turkey and Spain shared similar views on Gaza and would continue their cooperation, saying, "We call on other European countries to recognize Palestine; this is the only solution. The international community needs to take steps in this regard. President Erdoğan is doing the same, we are moving in the same direction."