"Demirtaş: A Threat to the Man of a Thousand Faces"

Demirtaş: A Threat to the Man of a Thousand Faces

Author: Gouya Roshan (Güya Aydın 

In the contemporary history of the Kurds, many figures have been subjected to oppression and injustice, and one of the most prominent among them is Selahattin Demirtaş. A man who neither took up arms nor promoted violence, but instead, with his gentle words, his pen, and his democratic policies, became the voice of the Kurds and of all the oppressed in Turkey. He symbolizes a man whose only crime was defending justice, truth, and freedom of expression. Nevertheless, the Turkish government accused him of the same label that was placed on armed Kurdish leaders like Öcalan. Demirtaş is not only the voice of the Kurds; he also managed to win the hearts of many Turks, Alevis, and freedom seekers, and this popularity made him Erdoğan’s most dangerous rival.

Erdoğan, the man of a thousand faces, with a combination of selfish politics and structural repression, has shown that he only cares about preserving power.

The same man who once considered Newroz a crime and tortured Kurds for years for celebrating it, now declares Newroz an official holiday in Turkey. Because in politics, he wants to stand beside Aliyev, smile, and put political expediency first! He denies that Demirtaş is Kurdish and calls him Zaza, unaware that Zaza is a dialect and represents a large part of the Kurdish people.

Yet, for purely personal reasons, he is willing to stand next to Masoud Barzani, the former president of Kurdistan, and raise the Turkish flag alongside the flag of Iraqi Kurdistan. But he ignores the Kurds and Kurdish identity in Turkey, labeling them terrorists. All of this is, of course, a clear example of Erdoğan’s political ignorance and divisive power.

Perhaps the most interesting point is that many of Erdoğan’s key decisions resemble choices he makes in the evenings while having tea and crackers with his wife Emine, rather than consulting political advisors. Because every morning, political and social issues appear entirely different from the day before.

Turkey’s relationship with Azerbaijan is another example of Erdoğan’s many-faced politics. Until yesterday, the two countries had cold relations due to religious and historical differences, but today, because of political and economic interests, they have suddenly become close allies—while a large part of Turkey’s population still does not fully accept Azerbaijanis.

But Demirtaş, with his charismatic and peaceful personality, is not only a Kurdish leader but also a symbol of resistance against oppression, injustice, and political hypocrisy. His imprisonment, without committing any real crime, but merely for the crime of humanity and the defense of truth, is a bitter example of Turkey’s political history and a historical injustice that must never be forgotten.

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