Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, has said that an anticipated call from imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan could serve as a “roadmap” for resolving Turkey’s longstanding Kurdish question. His remarks came during a press briefing following his party’s weekly parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday.
Speaking about the expected timing and content of Öcalan’s message, Bakırhan stated that discussions were ongoing among various stakeholders, including Kurdish political actors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). “Meetings of this nature are not easily conducted. The delegation is engaging in intensive discussions with the PKK, its institutions, allies, and key Kurdish parties such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). We will evaluate the delegation’s discussions upon their return and strive to facilitate the call as soon as possible,” he explained.
Bakırhan emphasised that Öcalan’s statement is expected soon, depending on the delegation’s engagements. “There is no ambiguity on our part. If the Ministry of Justice expedites the process, we anticipate that imprisoned Kurdish leader Öcalan will make his final statement after receiving feedback from the meetings. Whether the call comes before or after the delegation’s discussions, we prefer it to follow these engagements,” he noted.
Addressing speculation that Öcalan’s call would include a disarmament proposal, Bakırhan clarified that the statement would focus on broader democratic reforms rather than solely on armed conflict. “I previously stated that this would be a historic call. The fundamental issue is not just about weapons, but about eliminating the perception of terrorism and security threats, ensuring equal rights for all citizens, and democratising Turkey. The core objective is to shift the Kurdish question from a security-based approach to a legal and political framework,” he said.
Bakırhan also criticised the Turkish government’s escalating crackdown on the opposition, particularly targeting Kurdish politicians and institutions. He condemned the appointment of state trustees to replace elected Kurdish mayors, describing the practice as a direct attack on democratic principles. “The appointment of trustees to municipalities is a blatant violation of democratic will. People have elected their representatives multiple times, only to have them removed. Abdullah Zeydan and our Co-Chair Safiye Akdağ are not terrorists. It is shameful to suggest otherwise,” he stated.
The DEM Party co-chair further addressed recent comments by Mehmet Uçum, a senior adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had denounced peace advocates as “betrayers” and dismissed reconciliation efforts as an “imperialist project.” Uçum, in a social media statement, argued that any resolution to the Kurdish question must conform to the state’s nationalist framework, stating, “When Turkey achieves a terror-free status, the foundations of the National State—the Republic, Unitary Structure, Turkish Nation, Turkish Citizenship, Turkish Language, Turkish Flag, and National Anthem—will never be open for debate.”
Bakırhan dismissed Uçum’s comments as “a dangerous attempt to incite nationalist fervour and suppress any democratic dialogue on the Kurdish question”. He stressed that the DEM Party’s counterpart in any peace negotiations was the Turkish state, not nationalist figures seeking to stoke division. “The international community is well aware of these injustices. We stand for peace and a democratic resolution, and we hope this will be achieved in these lands,” he concluded.
