In recent political discourse in Turkey, the issue of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has emerged as a focal point amid calls for greater dialogue and potential reforms. Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, has urged the government to lift the isolation imposed on Öcalan, who has been held in severe conditions on İmralı Island for 43 months without communication.
On Tueday, Bakırhan’s comments come in response to remarks by Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who called for Öcalan to “dismantle his organisation.” Bahçeli, delivering his statement during a recent party meeting, said, “No one should expect the state to negotiate with terrorism,”reflecting the government’s longstanding stance against any form of dialogue with the PKK, whom they designate a terrorist organisation.
Abdullah Öcalan has been prevented from meeting with his lawyers and family for 43 months, Bakırhan said. “We are curious about how Öcalan would respond to such a call, and we ask the authorities to open İmralı’s doors so that we can listen to him.”
The DEM Party, which Bakırhan describes as a representative of various oppressed groups, insists on the need for a democratic framework that acknowledges the rights of all ethnicities in Turkey. “True dialogue requires listening to all voices, including those of the Kurdish people,” he added. Bakırhan highlighted that the current situation, marked by economic hardship and social unrest, calls for immediate action towards fostering dialogue and reconciliation.
Murat Karayılan, a member of the PKK’s executive committee, also weighed in on the current political climate, suggesting that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)-MHP coalition is feeling the pressure due to failed policies: “They are still killing Kurds every day and settling down, there is a war, there is isolation on Leader Apo. So there is no such thing [as government’s desire for peace with the Kurds].” He cautioned against overinterpreting the DEM Party’s outreach, stating, “Some people even say, ‘I wonder if a new [peace] process will begin?’ There is no such thing. No one should have such dreams.”
Karayılan further asserted that President Erdoğan seeks to manipulate the opposition, trying to impose his own agenda while creating confusion. “The opposition’s rhetoric around normalisation and some approaches in this vein provide ground for this,” he explained. He insisted that the ruling power is cornered and desperate to escape that pressure, urging the opposition not to fall into the government’s traps. “This is very important; it is a game,” he warned.
The urgency of the current discourse is underscored by the growing frustrations among various demographic groups in Turkey, particularly regarding issues such as rising poverty and unemployment. Bakırhan lamented that “people are losing hope,” citing the plight of the unemployed, pensioners, and women facing violence. He called for unity among all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or belief, to combat the systemic issues that afflict the country.
As discussions around constitutional reforms and potential amendments to Turkey’s foundational laws gain momentum, both Bakırhan and Karayılan express caution. They suggest that any changes should genuinely reflect the voices of all communities and not be merely cosmetic measures aimed at appeasing dissent.
Bahçeli’s insistence on maintaining a hardline approach towards terrorism and his dismissal of dialogue were met with criticism from Bakırhan, who argued that excluding certain groups from discussions only perpetuates conflict. “Real peace cannot exist alongside oppression. The state must embrace all its citizens, not just a select few,” he asserted.
“This is our country, and everyone must understand that we are the true owners of this land. We must fight for a future where justice and democracy prevail,” Bakırhan concluded.
