“These empty threats cannot deter us or our friends who are taken hostage”

The People's Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey has issued a strong response to President Tayyip Erdogan's recent balcony speech, in which he targeted Selahattin Demirtas, the former Co-Chair of the HDP who is currently held in the Edirne Type F Prison.

"These empty threats cannot deter us or our friends who have been unlawfully taken hostage from their path," the HDP said in a statement.

This statement comes after Erdogan's speech, delivered from the Presidential Palace, where he accused Demirtas of being responsible for the deaths of 51 Kurdish individuals during protests against the Turkish government’s inaction about ISIS attacks in Northern Syria’s Kobane.

HDP, in their response, asserted their commitment to continue striving for freedom, democracy, and peace in the country.

Here is the statement of the HDP:

"Erdogan, who incited booing and hateful slogans against Demirtas during his post-election speech, should know that these empty threats cannot deter us or our friends who have been unlawfully taken hostage. We will continue to walk on our path; we will bring freedom, democracy, and peace to this country."