Political discussions at the high-security İmralı F-Type Prison appear to be entering a new phase. During the Eid al-Adha holiday, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party MP Ömer Öcalan made a rare visit to his imprisoned uncle, the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. This comes amid renewed efforts by the DEM Party to open a dialogue with Öcalan and initiate broader peace talks, particularly following the recent call for renewed access to the imprisoned leader and the initiation of a formal reconciliation process.
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The visit lasted more than an hour and was attended by relatives including Ali Öcalan and two young family members. It was notably the first time Abdullah Öcalan had met some of the younger members of his family. Noting that his uncle had given pens to the visiting children, Ömer Öcalan said that he had advised them to be strong and never to stay in the background. “He wants them to be resolute,” said Ömer Öcalan.
Speaking to the Firat News Agency (ANF), Ömer Öcalan stated that “Leader Öcalan places great importance on the parliamentary commission that is to be established and attributes a unique significance to the DEM Party”.
The DEM Party recently reiterated its demand for renewed access to Abdullah Öcalan, proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission within the Turkish Parliament. During a press conference, DEM Party Parliamentary Group Co-Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan emphasised that Öcalan’s involvement is essential for establishing a path towards peaceful and democratic solutions. The initiative was presented as a foundational step towards restarting negotiations, with senior figures, including Ömer Öcalan, emphasising the party’s commitment to inclusive dialogue. The party maintains that Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in isolation since 1999, is central to resolving the Kurdish question through political and non-violent means.
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During the latest Eid al-Adha visit, Ömer Öcalan said that his uncle had made it clear that he does not see the DEM Party as an exclusively Kurdish entity. “He says the DEM Party is not solely Kurdish, but a movement that fosters fraternity between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples,” he noted.
Abdullah Öcalan reportedly emphasised the need for a ‘new paradigm’ to guide Turkey into its second century, suggesting that both Kurds and Turks require systemic change. “The current framework no longer fits; it distorts the overall structure,” Ömer quoted his uncle as saying.
The imprisoned Kurdish leader is said to place particular importance on the parliamentary commission and has expressed a willingness to engage with all sectors of Turkish society. The visit and his statements are seen as signs of growing political engagement in İmralı, reviving hopes that peace efforts may evolve into a regional process of democratic reconciliation.
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