Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party is pressing ahead with plans for a mass rally in Diyarbakır (Amed) on 13 October. Under the slogan “Resisting the plot, we gather in Amed for freedom”, the rally aims to challenge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s war policies and the continued isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Diyarbakır rally to challenge Erdoğan’s war policy, Öcalan’s isolation
In the days leading up to the event, DEM Party members have been actively organising across Diyarbakır and beyond, working with local businesses, community groups and political allies to encourage participation.
DEM Party officials including MPs Beritan Güneş and Adalet Kaya have conducted outreach activities in areas of Diyarbakır such as Peyas, Yenişehir and Sur, meeting with residents, shopkeepers and women’s groups to mobilise support. At the same time, DEM Party representatives in Istanbul have been coordinating with various political parties and civil society organisations. They have met with leaders of the Labour Party (EMEP) and other groups, such as the Federation of Socialist Assemblies and the Peace Mothers, to emphasise the significance of the rally and call for solidarity.
The rally in Diyarbakır is the highest point to date in a series of protests calling for an end to Öcalan’s 42 months of incommunicado detention. During this time, Öcalan has been cut off from any communication with the outside world, a situation that has led to widespread criticism and ongoing lobbying by pro-Kurdish groups. The rally is seen as a last-ditch effort to highlight Öcalan’s situation and demand the recognition of his right to communicate, which many see as crucial to any lasting peace process in Turkey.
The timing of the rally is significant, following recent symbolic peace gestures from Turkey’s political leadership. Far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, a long-time critic of Kurdish political initiatives, made the headlines by shaking hands with DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan during the opening session of the Turkish parliament on 1 October. Bahçeli’s subsequent statement calling for “peace in our own country”, backed by Erdoğan’s stated support for national dialogue, has led to speculation about the possibility of a renewed peace process.
DEM Party officials have reacted with caution. While acknowledging the importance of the gestures, they argue that concrete action is needed to bring about real change. The DEM Party maintains that any meaningful peace process must include a renewed dialogue with Öcalan, which it sees as essential to resolving the Kurdish question. “Social peace requires more than gestures – it requires substantial actions,” DEM Party MP Adalet Kaya remarked. She drew attention to Öcalan’s role in the 2013-2015 peace process, noting his influence in reducing violence and facilitating discussions at that time.
As preparations for the rally continue, DEM Party leaders stress that their aim is to stand up for peace, unity and Kurdish rights. They see the rally as an important platform for amplifying their call for a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
