We need to establish peace by opposing guns, violence and war under all circumstances: Demirtaş

Duvar English 

Former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has condemned the killing of 13 Turkish nationals, including soldiers, police and intelligence officers, held captive by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

"I openly condemn the fact that 13 of our people held by the PKK were killed. I share the pain of the families and offer my condolences to them. I'm deeply saddened by what happened," Demirtaş said on Twitter on Feb. 18. 

Demirtaş, who has been imprisoned on charges related to the PKK since Nov. 4, 2016, said that the government needs to be held accountable for the tragedy that unfolded. 

"It's careless to hold the HDP and the opposition responsible for the tragedy that took place as a result of an operation that was carried out for a political show rather than using diplomatic means," Demirtaş said. 

"The government is the one that needs to give answers to the public," he said. 

Demirtaş finally noted that peace must be ensured through objecting to guns, violence and war. 

"What's essential is to establish peace by opposing guns, violence and war under all circumstances," the prominent politician said. 

The government often targets the HDP and Demirtaş by accusing them of having links to terror. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targets Demirtaş by calling him a terrorist and openly says that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings for his immediate release are not binding for Turkey.