Doctors at an İstanbul hospital say Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a senior official in Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition party, remains in critical condition nearly a week after undergoing heart surgery.
Önder, Deputy Speaker of Parliament for the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and a member of the İmralı Delegation involved in the ongoing Kurdish peace talks, has been in intensive care at Florence Nightingale Hospital since his operation on 15 April.
In a public statement issued on Monday, the hospital reported that while Önder’s heart function has shown signs of improvement, his overall condition remains “very high risk”, with serious concerns about his neurological state.
“Neurological assessments are ongoing. He is still unconsciousness, and reflexes are not at the desired level,” said Prof. Dr Çavlan Çiftçi, one of Önder’s doctors. “We remain seriously concerned and will continue to wait with patience.” Further progress is needed to assess the extent of neurological recovery, Çiftçi noted, adding that the length of sedation will depend on his ongoing response to treatment.
Dr Ertan Sağbaş, another member of the medical team, described early improvements in Önder’s heart function as unexpected but encouraging. “At first, the right side of the heart was not contracting at all, so we provided device support. The fact that it’s now beating is a positive sign,” he said.
Önder remains on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a machine that supports heart and lung function, and is also receiving inotropic medication to help maintain blood pressure and cardiac output.
The medical team emphasised that Önder’s condition remains complex, with progress on heart function not yet matched by neurological recovery. “His internal organs are stable—kidneys and liver are working well—but there is still a long road ahead,” Sağbaş added.
Doctors reported that Önder underwent a planned surgical revision on Saturday, during which no signs of infection or ongoing internal bleeding were found. A minor issue with drainage-related bleeding was identified and resolved with stitches.
However, the hospital reaffirmed its earlier concerns regarding Önder’s brain function. “From the first moment of his admission, his consciousness has remained closed. While brain blood flow has been observed, reflexes remain weak,” the hospital said in its statement. “Serious neurological concerns continue with high risk.”
Önder, an MP and well-known figure in both Kurdish and Turkish politics, played a prominent role in the peace process between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) during the 2010s. His current role includes mediating between the DEM Party and government institutions, as well as advocating for the rights of political prisoners.
