“We cannot close our eyes,” declared Xavier Bettel, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on Wednesday at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, as he addressed Turkish authorities over the prolonged isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Bettel emphasised, “This situation will definitely remain on the agenda,” in reference to Öcalan’s incarceration on İmralı Island, where he has been held in almost complete isolation for 25 years.
The sharp intervention came during a session of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where the body’s highest ministers confronted Turkey over its continued refusal to comply with European human rights standards regarding aggravated life sentences — a policy directly affecting Öcalan. Since his capture in 1999, Öcalan, founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has been held under conditions widely condemned as inhumane by rights groups and European legal bodies.
The case is not new to the Council’s agenda. “Since 2014, it has also been on the agenda of the Committee of Ministers,” Bettel reminded lawmakers, outlining how the Council has repeatedly called on Ankara to establish a credible review mechanism for life sentences, a legal safeguard that is standard under European human rights norms.
The urgency of the matter has escalated after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Turkey’s legal framework violates the “Right to Hope”, as it denies prisoners like Öcalan the prospect of sentence review and potential release. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers echoed this judgment, expressing “deep concern” at Turkey’s inaction, and warning of an interim resolution if no progress is made by September 2025.
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For Öcalan’s supporters, the Council’s latest statements are long overdue. “There is currently some movement in this matter,” noted Andrej Hunko, a German lawmaker from the Unified European Left Group (UEL), who pressed the issue in Strasbourg. Hunko argued that implementing the Court’s rulings could not only rectify legal failings but also “contribute to ensuring the possible peace process in this conflict at present”.
Öcalan’s imprisonment is emblematic of the broader Kurdish question in Turkey, a nation where calls for Kurdish rights have historically been met with severe crackdowns. Öcalan’s lawyers and advocates have long argued that lifting his isolation would pave the way for meaningful dialogue. Yet, Turkey has maintained a hardline stance, categorising the PKK as a terrorist organisation and refusing to engage in negotiations unless the group disarms unconditionally.
Adding to the pressure, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers urged Ankara to align its national laws with European standards, stressing that “national law can also be aligned with the practice of our standards under the European Convention on Human Rights.” Bettel underscored the importance of cooperation, stating, “I hope that the Turkish administration will continue to cooperate with the Council of Europe on this topic”.
The Council also demanded that Turkey provide clear data on how many prisoners are serving aggravated life sentences without review, highlighting systemic concerns beyond Öcalan’s case. Nonetheless, the Kurdish leader remains the symbol at the heart of the dispute. Advocacy groups supporting Öcalan, including the longstanding vigil at the Council’s doorstep, criticised the Council for what they see as sluggish action. “We are left wondering if we can even hope for Abdullah Öcalan to be granted his Right to Hope,” activists lamented, decrying the postponement of decisive measures until later this year.
The Council’s firm tone reflects a broader alarm over democratic backsliding in Turkey. Earlier sessions in Strasbourg saw heavy criticism of Ankara’s mass arrests of opposition figures, including İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose detention ahead of presidential primaries triggered nationwide protests and international condemnation.
As the Council of Europe marks the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights this year, the case of Abdullah Öcalan remains a test of its influence and credibility. For now, the Council’s message to Turkey is unequivocal: Öcalan’s fate, and the fate of hundreds like him, will not be forgotten.
