DEM Party Urges Lifting Isolation on Ocalan, Calls for Legal Pathway to Peace Process

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has reiterated its demand for the immediate lifting of Abdullah Ocalan’s isolation and the provision of conditions that allow him to freely engage with Kurdish political actors, describing his participation as essential for revitalizing Türkiye’s stalled peace process.

Speaking at a gathering in Istanbul on Thursday, DEM Party Co-chair Tulay Hatimoğulları stated that the Turkish parliament must take “decisive and urgent legislative steps” to create a legitimate legal framework for resuming peace negotiations.

“Ocalan has made a historic appeal to the PKK, urging them to convene a congress and step away from armed struggle. The necessary environment must be created for this call to materialize,” Hatimoğulları told Kurdistan24, emphasizing that this moment represents an opportunity that Türkiye must not waste.

DEM Delegation Pushes for Access to Imrali

Hatimoğulları’s remarks come as a DEM delegation prepares for a pivotal visit to Imrali Island, where Ocalan has been imprisoned since 1999. The delegation intends to brief Ocalan on its recent 90-minute meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—a meeting the party described as “positive and constructive.”

She affirmed that the peace process cannot proceed in a vacuum and that Ocalan must be able to hold comprehensive talks with a broad spectrum of Kurdish figures, including civil society, scholars, and political leaders. “This cannot be a symbolic dialogue,” she said, adding that DEM party is demanding “an end to the policy of solitary confinement and the reinstatement of Ocalan’s right to communication and consultation.”

Parliament Urged to Act

The DEM Party called on the Turkish Grand National Assembly to initiate legislative reforms supporting the peace initiative and providing constitutional guarantees for its implementation. Hatimoğulları underscored the need for “parliamentary courage” and stressed that “democratic forces in Türkiye must come together to support a real transition to peace.”

Ocalan’s Disarmament Call Still Echoes

In February, Ocalan issued a widely circulated message from prison urging the PKK to disband and renounce armed conflict. “All armed groups must lay down their weapons. The PKK must dismantle itself,” he stated, taking full historical responsibility for the appeal.

The statement marked the clearest call yet for the closure of the armed chapter in the Kurdish struggle, further strengthening DEM party’s argument that the state must allow Ocalan to directly oversee the political and structural transformation of the Kurdish movement.

Erdogan-Bahçeli Peace Bargain Revisited

Earlier this year, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli—Erdogan’s far-right ally—shocked political observers by suggesting a conditional release for Ocalan in exchange for the formal disbandment of the PKK. Erdogan described it as a “historic opportunity,” potentially opening the door to reconciliation.

As part of this broader momentum, DEM Party announced plans to meet with the Minister of Justice to advocate for a clear legal framework that would institutionalize the negotiation process, ensure transparency, and allow for Ocalan’s legitimate role in peace efforts.

A New Chapter or Another False Dawn?

Despite the cautious optimism, observers remain wary. The failure of previous peace initiatives, including the high-profile 2013 process, has left many skeptical. Analysts warn that without robust institutional backing and clear legal protections, this initiative risks becoming yet another missed opportunity.

Still, Hatimoğulları concluded her remarks with a note of determination: “There can be no sustainable peace without dialogue, and no dialogue without Ocalan. This is a moment of decision—not only for us, but for Türkiye’s entire democratic future.”