The Kurdish issue is once again at the forefront of the Turkish political scene, this time through a proposal by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party, regarding the dismantling of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). While this proposal may seem like a step towards a political solution, it once again highlights the deeper challenge: Can the Turkish state address the Kurdish issue from a political and social perspective rather than focusing solely on security and legal solutions?
Over the decades, the obstacle has not been the absence of initiatives but rather the lack of political will to complete them on democratic foundations. Since the 1990s, Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder and leader of the PKK, has called for a comprehensive political solution. However, the Turkish state has often viewed these calls as temporary negotiating tactics rather than as part of an integrated political project. Today, with rising regional tensions and internal shifts, the need for a comprehensive approach is becoming increasingly urgent. But the question remains: Is there genuine readiness for such an approach?
In an interview with “Nidaa Al-Watan,” Tülay Hatimoğulları, Member of Parliament and co-chair of the “Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party,” asserted that Bahçeli’s proposal cannot be reduced to a simple “give-and-take” equation. The dissolution of the PKK, under Öcalan’s leadership, requires reciprocal steps within clear mechanisms of implementation and administration. Since 1993, Öcalan has been calling on the Turkish state to resolve the issue through political means, so presenting this idea as a new stance is misleading.
Hatimoğulları added that “Öcalan’s freedom is a fundamental condition for achieving a lasting political solution, but it is not sufficient on its own to ensure success. As Öcalan himself has pointed out, building a democratic nation as an alternative to the concept of the nation-state is a project for peace and democracy. Therefore, a comprehensive approach must be adopted that considers the principles of social peace and democratic rights.”
Visit to İmralı and Öcalan’s Messages
Regarding her recent visit to İmralı Island and her meeting with Öcalan, Hatimoğulları revealed that the meeting, which took place on February 27, was historic. She confirmed that Öcalan was clear in his vision for a political solution, noting that the statement issued after the meeting reflects this conviction. She added that Öcalan is aware of the impact of regional and internal developments on the chances of reaching a solution, and he recognizes the attempts of certain parties to obstruct these efforts. For this reason, he is adopting an approach entirely different from the previous experience between 2013 and 2015.
Öcalan also issued a clear call to the PKK, urging reciprocal steps to be taken in order to convene a conference for disarmament and resolution as soon as possible.
The Political Role of the “Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party”
On the role of the party in transforming the peace process into a legal and political pathway, Hatimoğulları emphasized that her party does not have direct authority to dissolve the PKK or disarm it, but it bears significant responsibilities in establishing the foundations of a solution within a legal and democratic framework. She pointed out that the party’s role lies in supporting democratic reforms, strengthening the rule of law, developing legislation that respects human rights, and implementing the principle of decentralized governance.
Hatimoğulları stressed that achieving these reforms requires the cooperation of major parliamentary blocs, such as the “Justice and Development Party” and the “Nationalist Movement Party,” with direct participation from the “Republican People’s Party” to advance the democratic process.
Amid the challenges facing minorities in Turkey, Hatimoğulları emphasized the necessity of official recognition of the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, stating that any legal or administrative system that discriminates between identities cannot be considered a modern democratic system. She noted that strengthening minority rights, such as mother-tongue education and multilingual public services, could serve as an inspiring model for Middle Eastern countries in achieving social peace.
The Role of Women in Promoting Peace and Democracy
As for the role of women in promoting peace and democracy, Hatimoğulları affirmed that defending women’s rights and fighting for their freedom are fundamental aspects of her party’s project. She explained that the “Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party” implements a co-presidency system to ensure effective representation of women at all administrative and governmental levels, emphasizing that enhancing women’s participation in public life is a necessary condition for building a democratic society.
She also stressed the importance of Turkey rejoining the Istanbul Convention to protect women’s rights, asserting that the fight against gender-based violence must go beyond merely tightening legal penalties to include comprehensive educational and social reforms. She concluded by reaffirming that the “Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party” will remain a strong advocate for women’s issues and social justice.
Josiane Hajj Moussa
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/article/315626-حرية-أوجلان-شرط-للتوصل-إلى-حل-سياسي-دائم