Ömer Öcalan, Şanlıurfa (Riha) deputy of the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) and nephew of Abdullah Öcalan, has made public the details of his meeting with the imprisoned Kurdish leader on 23 October. The meeting, the first in over 43 months, sheds light on Abdullah Öcalan’s proposals for peace and his analysis of regional and historical dynamics.
Speaking in the Turkish parliament, Ömer Öcalan described his uncle as “strong, determined and deeply engaged in the current issues”. He quoted Abdullah Öcalan as saying: “This issue could have been resolved in 2000. I proposed solutions in 1999 and repeated them in 2000, but my efforts were misinterpreted. The problem is still unresolved in 2024”.
Abdullah Öcalan presented a framework for dialogue and advocated it as the only viable method to solve the Kurdish question. He expressed his willingness to “take the initiative” for peace, but stressed the need for the Turkish government to create an environment conducive to a solution. “I am not talking about conditions for myself, but for a solution to emerge,” Ömer quoted his uncle as saying.
The imprisoned Kurdish leader also offered historical and geopolitical analysis, reflecting on Kurdish-Turkish alliances through figures such as Sultan Selim and Mustafa Kemal. He stressed the importance of unity and offered practical solutions for peace, which Ömer Öcalan described as “the most reasonable proposals” for the current political landscape.
During the meeting, Abdullah Öcalan discussed the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including developments in Syria, Iraq and Iran. He expressed concern about Turkey’s actions in northern Syria and their impact on the Kurdish movement. “His vision remains focused on peace and coexistence, based on a deep understanding of historical and geopolitical realities,” noted Ömer Öcalan.
Ömer Öcalan concluded his speech by highlighting the critical juncture facing the Kurdish issue and Turkey’s role in resolving it. He stated, “Mr Öcalan deeply analysed the thousand-year relationship between Kurds and Turks and has laid out a solution. We stands for resolution and peace, and we will move forward with anyone willing to contribute to it.”
The October meeting marked a break in Abdullah Öcalan’s 45-month incommunicado detention. However, his overall isolation remains severe, with visits from lawyers and family members systematically denied under the guise of disciplinary punishment. Lawyers from the Asrın Law Office have submitted an application to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) calling for a review of conditions on İmralı Island and the publication of its findings.
The application details repeated violations, including the rejection of 34 requests for lawyers and 18 requests for family visits between August and November 2024. It also highlights Turkey’s failure to implement a 2014 European Court of Human Rights ruling that found Öcalan’s aggravated life imprisonment to be a form of torture.
