On 24 April, a delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party met with Turkish Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç at the Ministry of Justice in Ankara. The meeting, which was originally scheduled for an earlier date, was postponed due to the health problems of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, the deputy speaker of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly and a key figure in the DEM Party. Önder was unable to attend the meeting, but the delegation continued the discussion, which was attended by DEM Party group deputies Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and Sezai Temelli, and Öztürk Türkdoğan, co-spokesperson of the Human Rights and Legal Affairs Commission.
Following the meeting, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit issued a press statement detailing the main issues discussed. She stressed that the delegation raised concerns about the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader, and the urgent need to improve the conditions of his solitary confinement. Koçyiğit emphasised that Öcalan’s current conditions hinder his ability to contribute to the peace process and the delegation urged the Ministry of Justice to take immediate steps to improve these conditions so that he can make a meaningful contribution to the peace talks.
Koçyiğit also noted that the DEM delegation raised the issue of sick prisoners, particularly those suffering from medical problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The delegation called for reforms to ensure that all prisoners, including political prisoners, are treated equally before the law, particularly with regard to the application of conditional release laws.
The DEM Party representatives also raised the issue of Turkey’s judicial reform package, urging the government to remove provisions that could criminalise acts not directly related to organised crime. Koçyiğit stressed that these reforms should be in line with constitutional principles and human rights standards, ensuring fair treatment for all citizens, including political prisoners.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to continue dialogue on these critical issues. The DEM Party delegation expressed the hope that this discussion would lead to tangible improvements in the treatment of political prisoners, including Öcalan, and to broader legal reforms aimed at ensuring equality and justice in Turkey.
