The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party’s İmralı Prison shuttle delegation expects a third meeting with jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan to take place later this week. Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan provided details about the formal request and the expected timeline for the visit.
Doğan said that the party hopes the visit will occur as soon as possible, ideally before the end of this week, and emphasised that a comprehensive statement will be shared with the public upon the delegation’s return. Addressing the format of Öcalan’s expected announcement, Doğan noted that while some details remain unclear, the party strongly advocates for a video statement.
"We have consistently emphasised that lifting the isolation on Öcalan is necessary. A visual statement would have a much stronger impact, and we have reiterated that there is a significant societal demand for this."
Doğan also stressed the significance of Öcalan’s statement, saying, “We await this historic announcement with unprecedented hope and urgency. It cannot be delayed or postponed.” She called for strong support for peace, democratic change and transformation to establish a democratic society in Turkey:
''We stand on the threshold of a new life, and the most fundamental step towards this future is to pave the way for this message. If we open the path for words, democratic legal principles will function properly, and our vision of a democratic society will become reality. Now is the time to fearlessly and courageously support peace, democratic change and transformation."
Additionally, Doğan addressed questions about other potential members of the visiting delegation, particularly veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk, who was personally designated by Öcalan to join the delegation during the first meeting held on 28 December last year. “We have submitted an application for Ahmet Türk. However, as we have not yet received a response, we cannot confirm whether he will be part of the delegation.”
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Öcalan, imprisoned since 1999 on the high-security Turkish island of İmralı, has been held in strict isolation and, since 2021, totally incommunicado, with no access to legal representatives or family members until recent developments allowed the reinstatement limited communication. His conditions of detention have long been a point of contention, with human rights organisations and political actors calling for an end to his incommunicado status. The delegation’s visits to Öcalan in the last weeks mark a significant shift, raising expectations of a potential political breakthrough.
The recent developments surrounding Öcalan’s expected announcement stem from a political shift that began in October. Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the ultra-nationalist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a key partner in the ruling coalition, made an unprecedented move by shaking hands with DEM Party MPs in parliament. This symbolic gesture was followed by Bahçeli’s call for Öcalan to make a historic statement, signalling a potential new era of peace and reconciliation.
Following this, the Turkish government permitted a series of visits to Öcalan, marking a significant departure from his years of incommunicado detention. The first visit was granted to Öcalan’s nephew, Ömer Öcalan, also a sitting MP, paving the way for further political dialogue. Shortly after, a delegation from the DEM Party was permitted two separate visits to İmralı, further fuelling speculation on an impending peace initiative.
Öcalan’s anticipated statement is widely expected to have far-reaching consequences, influencing both government policy and opposition strategies. With mounting public expectations, stakeholders from all political factions—both ruling and opposition—are closely monitoring the situation, as the potential for a new chapter in Turkish-Kurdish relations emerges.
