Zeydanoğlu: Democratization can be achieved if Öcalan is involved in politics

Özgür Zeydanoğlu, a member of party assembly of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) stated that the ‘one-man rule’ in the country started with the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı prison and emphasized that “democratization can be achieved by including Öcalan into mainstream politics.”

HDP’s Zeydanoğlu remarked that the Kurdish search for identity and rights started with Kurdish leader Öcalan.

Interviewed by ANF, Zeydanoğlu said that the February 15 Conspiracy was carried out with the assistance of international and hegemonic powers as well as local collaborative forces.

‘MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE CENTURY’

“23 years have passed since that day. In fact, the conspiracy is continuing in various ways. Over time, the different aspects of the conspiracy have been revealed. Considering the forces that carried out the conspiracy and its consequences, it was one of the most important events of the 20th century,” Zeydanoğlu told ANF.

“The Turkish legal system has adopted an enemy law. Years-long isolation on Imrali emerged outside the Turkish legal system. Moreover, we see the same thing in the international legal system, which has become politicized as it remains indifferent to Imrali. Conventions to which Turkey is a party, including ECHR… International legal institutions have not made any criticism against the isolation at Imrali prison so far. International law has not developed an attitude concerning Öcalan so far.”

CONSPIRACY AND KURDISH ISSUE CONNECTED

Zeydanoğlu underlined that the international conspiracy and the Kurdish problem are interconnected.

“The conspiracy was an effort to leave the Kurds and Kurdistan without political status because Öcalan is considered a very important actor and a leader for the Kurds. The Kurds’ search for identity and rights started with Öcalan. This was the main target of the conspiracy. The aim is to eliminate the Kurds and the Kurdish problem through the isolation of Öcalan. The Kurds have clearly expressed themselves for years; the approach to the Kurdish problem and the Kurds is tantamount to the approach to Öcalan and vice versa. As such, this is the whole point of the conspiracy,” the HDP politician underlined.

‘ONE-MAN RULE STARTED WITH ISOLATION’

Zeydanoğlu stated that Öcalan’s philosophy advocates ‘freedom for the Kurds, democracy for Turkey’ and that the Kurdish leader is the only political actor who has a democracy project in Turkey.

The HDP official pointed out that the one-man rule started with the isolation imposed on Öcalan. “There is a parallelism between Öcalan’s involvement in politics and Turkey’s democratization. This connection is denied within Turkish politics. People are curious about what Öcalan thinks amid the recent political standoff in Turkey. This isolation targets not only Öcalan himself, but also the entire society. The right of society to get to know Öcalan’s thoughts is also hindered. We can clearly say that the isolation system that started in April 2015 has spread all over Turkey. Therefore, the Imrali system has permeated through the whole country.”

‘LAWYERS SHOULD GO TO IMRALI URGENTLY’

“Today, democrats, intellectuals and democratic circles in Turkey should be as sensitive as the Kurds about the isolation,” Zeydanoğlu noted.

“The need for Öcalan again, the constant references to him by the Turkish President should be considered as a confession that the ‘we will destroy, we will finish’ rhetoric and the collapse plan have failed. There was a solution process and Öcalan was the most important actor and the chief negotiator of it. After the process was halted, Öcalan did not have a chance to evaluate the solution process and convey his thoughts to the society. We all wonder how the architect of this process evaluated it. The public opinion wants to learn it from Öcalan, not from the President. What needs to be done currently is that the isolation on Mr. Öcalan should be lifted and a meeting with a lawyer delegation should be held as soon as possible,” Zeydanoğlu stressed.

Zeydanoğlu said that his party’s priorities are the solution of the Kurdish problem and the democratization of Turkey. “This is of course possible with the power of the society and the democratic resistance of the society. In the meantime, Mr. Öcalan’s role is very important for an environment of peace and a solution since he is an important actor for the democratization of Turkey. Therefore, it is very important to lift the isolation, and moreover his freedom is of primary importance for the future of Turkey, its democratization and the solution of the Kurdish problem. These conditions should be met as soon as possible. At least, Öcalan’s involvement in politics is important for the Turkey’s future. The public is waiting for Mr. Öcalan to make an evaluation about the current issues. Citizens want to hear this directly from Öcalan. Hence, a delegation of lawyers must urgently visit him in Imrali prison.”