WAN - Female politicians speaking about the ‘right to hope’ emphasised that Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan must be able to work freely in order for the process to reach a conclusion, stating that "the right to hope is a legal right."

 

As a result of the failure to implement legal regulations in response to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling of 18 March 2014 on the ‘violation of the right to hope’ in relation to the aggravated life sentence imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers (CoM), which has the authority to impose sanctions, has once again granted Turkey an extension. 

 

Despite the ECHR's finding of a violation, Turkey has not enacted any legal regulations to recognise this right. The situation of Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in isolation at Imrali Prison for a long time without access to lawyers or family visits, is being discussed in both national and international legal circles in the context of the ‘prohibition of inhuman treatment’.

 

While the AKBK expects concrete steps from Turkey by June 2026, Kurdish politicians and civil society representatives are demanding the immediate implementation of the right to hope, the lifting of isolation, and the release of sick prisoners for the peace process launched on 27 February to progress healthily. 

 

‘We insist on hope’

 

Leyla Çelik, a member of the Tûşba Municipal Council, pointed to the peace process that began with Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ on 27 February, stating, ‘We have entered a new process towards the laying down of arms and the reduction of political pressure on the people. In response to this process, following developments after the PKK dissolved itself, it was decided to establish a commission in Parliament. It was important that the decisions taken by this commission had a legal basis. 

 

The main demand from the commission was the release of sick prisoners first, followed by political prisoners. At this point, the right to hope is very important. If a political outcome is to be achieved, we believe that the right to hope must be immediately addressed by the commission and that constitutional amendments must be made. We insist that with the implementation of the right to hope, all our comrades imprisoned alongside People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan must be released, and the process must continue in the political and legal spheres." 

 

‘The right to hope should be implemented for the process to progress more healthily’

 

Rêya Armûşê (İpekyolu) Municipal Council Member Öznur Evin stated that the right to hope is demanded by all peoples in Turkey and Kurdistan, saying, “The right to hope is an issue that must be addressed immediately, especially for sick prisoners. This right must be implemented immediately, especially for Mr. Öcalan and sick prisoners. The right to hope means taking steps towards social democracy, freedom and unity. At this point, we demand that the right to hope be implemented for all prisoners, especially Mr. Öcalan. For the process currently underway to progress more healthily, legal processes must be swiftly put into effect in the name of achieving social peace. The European Court of Human Rights has also stated that Turkey must take steps regarding the right to hope."

 

‘We are also waiting for the next step from the Turkish state’

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom must be secured, Münevver İlingi said that the right to hope must be implemented and the freedom of all prisoners in prison must be taken as a basis. Münevver İlingi said, “When we talk about the right to hope, peace must be at the forefront. The right to hope was born with the peace process that began on 27 February. Ending the isolation of Mr Abdullah Öcalan and allowing him to benefit from his right to hope must be our greatest struggle. The real steps towards peace originate from here. Only peace can ensure that women, children and nature are not slaughtered. We must walk the path based on the call for peace that took place on 27 February. The commission that has been established should visit Mr Abdullah Öcalan to hear his ideas and views; they should discuss “What can we do together, what steps can we take?”. We have taken the first step; we are waiting for the Turkish state to take the next step."

 

‘We are defenders of the right to hope’

 

Tûşba Municipal Council Member Mizgin Avras, referring to the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling that ‘every person who has spent 25 years in prison has the right to hope’, said that this right must be implemented. Mizgin Avras said, “We are also defenders of this right. As you know, Önderlik is under severe isolation and we want the right to hope to be recognised. We have gathered here today to march for the recognition of this right. We want the right to hope to be implemented for all political prisoners, especially Önderlik.”

 

‘We will fight until the right to hope is recognised for sick prisoners’

 

Artemêt (Edremit) Municipal Council Member Berivan Polat emphasised that the right to hope is one of the most fundamental rights enshrined in law, stating, “We reiterate our demand for the right to hope for Abdullah Öcalan, the pioneer of all rights, and for sick prisoners everywhere. We continue to fight for this. We will continue this struggle until the right to hope is granted to the leadership and sick prisoners."