Speaking at a press conference today, DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan stressed the importance of ending the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Following the recent visit of DEM Party MP Ömer Öcalan to İmralı, Doğan conveyed Öcalan’s message of readiness for dialogue to resolve the Kurdish issue. She urged the Turkish government to create the necessary legal and political conditions to facilitate a democratic solution, while also highlighting the heightened political tensions following the attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara.
Doğan reflected on the heightened tensions in Turkey, citing both the recent attack in Ankara and Turkish air strikes on North and East Syria, and called on all sides to prioritise peace and dialogue. She reiterated the DEM Party’s commitment to a democratic solution to the Kurdish question and stressed the central role of Öcalan in this process.
Doğan responded to the question of why Öcalan remains at the centre of these discussions by explaining that his lifelong commitment to a democratic solution to the Kurdish question and his widespread support within Kurdish communities make him a crucial actor for peace. She said: “Millions recognise him as their representative, and his engagement is key to resolving the wider regional and national conflicts”.
In her concluding remarks, Doğan said: “Öcalan is ready, the democratic political arena is ready – now it is time for the state to show if it is ready for peace”.
This comes at a time of heightened discussion in Turkish politics about the Kurdish question, with a renewed focus on the role of Öcalan and ongoing political tensions following recent events.
