Kurdish politician Sebahat Tuncel highlighted the critical role of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in achieving peace and democracy in Turkey, at a discussion in İzmir organised by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) and the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) on Saturday. Tuncel stated, “As long as Abdullah Öcalan remains isolated in Imrali Prison, true freedom and democracy will be impossible in Turkey.”
Imrali Prison, where Öcalan has been held since 1999, is seen by many as the focal point of Turkey’s broader strategy of conflict and refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Kurdish population. Tuncel argued that the isolation of Öcalan symbolises the state’s persistent deadlock in resolving the Kurdish issue. “Imrali is not just a prison; it is the epicentre of Turkey’s policies of conflict and oppression,” she added.
DEM Party member Ayten Kordu echoed Tuncel’s sentiments, saying, “The isolation of Öcalan marked the beginning of widespread anti-democratic practices in Turkey. This isolation now affects all of society.”
Tuncel concluded by emphasising that the path to democracy and peace in Turkey must involve Öcalan. “We must tear down the walls of isolation and build a new society based on freedom, justice and equality,” she urged, calling on women to take the lead in this struggle. The discussion ended with chants of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (“Women, Life, Freedom”).
