Sırrı Süreyya Önder, deputy speaker of the parliament and an MP from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, has been hospitalized after suffering a tear in his aorta.
The DEM Party first announced the issue in a written statement after midnight, saying that Önder was in critical condition. “We are meticulously following his health condition to get good news as soon as possible,” read the statement.
Önder experienced chest pain around 10 pm and was immediately taken to Florence Nightingale Hospital in İstanbul hospital by ambulance, bianet has learned. He was subsequently taken to the intensive care unit and is currently undergoing surgery.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed a tear in Önder’s aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.
Hospital officials told reporters that the tear was severe and the surgery could take up to 7-8 hours. Önder’s life-threatening condition remains ongoing.
Several prominent political figures visited the hospital following the news, including İstanbul Governor Davut Gül and Kurdish politicians Pervin Buldan, Sebahat Tuncel, and Filiz Kerestecioğlu.
Sırrı Süreyya Önder has played a significant role in Turkey’s recent political history, particularly during the Kurdish peace initiatives. He was part of the DEM Party delegation that recently held talks with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as part of the ongoing process. (AEK/VK)
Updates to follow…
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Source: BIANET
