As structural processes such as the Kurdish question and the parliamentary peace commission continue in Turkey, factors including pressures on the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the economic crisis, fake diploma scandals, and natural disasters are creating a climate that strains domestic politics and undermines public trust.
Political scientist Fatma Bostan Ünsal evaluated the concrete steps and priority policy proposals that the peace commission must take in order to secure internal peace in Turkey, resolve the Kurdish question, and rebuild public confidence.
Ünsal underlined that the commission established in parliament must take concrete measures for Turkey’s internal peace and for addressing the Kurdish question. She stated: “After the dissolution of the organization and the ceremony of burning weapons, the necessity of a democratic and peaceful political climate is something that everyone insists upon. In this sense, in geographies such as England, where for at least 500 years it has been established that ‘no one can be detained without a proper court decision,’ this principle has now been eliminated for CHP mayors, other elected officials, and municipal employees. According to the 2023 general elections, CHP became the main opposition party, and according to the 2024 local elections and most public opinion polls, it has become the leading party.”
She continued by recalling the consequences of the post-coup trials: “Following the coup attempt of July 15, in trials where millions of people were prosecuted, we see how the judiciary was used for political purposes through inappropriate methods such as opening investigations based on the statements of ‘secret witnesses’ and ‘informants,’ threatening defendants, and forcing them into so-called ‘effective remorse.’ As a result of deviation from proper judicial procedures, the judiciary has unfortunately become vulnerable to unprecedented levels of corruption bargaining among lawyers, judges, and prosecutors.”
Ünsal also pointed out that the same unlawful practices have long been used against Kurdish municipalities. She added: “Since 2016, for three consecutive terms, the practice of appointing trustees has been applied to Kurdish municipalities, disregarding the right of the local population to elect and to be elected. Recently, this same practice has also been extended to CHP mayors.”
Fatma Bostan Ünsal underlined that those who want peace, who have struggled for it, and who have paid a heavy price naturally approach the process with suspicion. She then made the following proposals:
The commission must end the trusteeship practice and reinstate mayors
“The commission must urgently abolish the practice of appointing trustees, ensure that elected mayors are reinstated, and take measures to guarantee the judiciary works ‘fairly.’ The Anti-Terror Law, introduced in the 1990s, in its current form considers lawful and legitimate activities unrelated to violence as sufficient grounds for prosecution under terrorism charges. This has led to massive rights violations and the victimization of tens of thousands of people.
In addition, the law excessively burdens the security and judicial bureaucracy. We witness intense violence in daily life; in most murder cases, it is common to see that the perpetrator is already wanted for 20 or 30 different crimes. Because prisons operate far beyond their capacity, ordinary crimes are overlooked in ways that create major security gaps in society. For this reason, either the Anti-Terror Law must be abolished, or terrorism must be strictly defined as related to violence.
As noted by Fethi Yıldız, a member of the People’s Alliance in the commission, it is evident that the discriminatory execution law must be corrected. Furthermore, decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Constitutional Court must be implemented without further delay. Implementing the ECHR rulings, whether they concern individuals such as Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Figen Yüksekdağ, or broader cases such as the Yalçındağ ruling that affects many people, would be among the first steps to restore confidence in the judiciary.”
Preventing a Peace Mother from speaking Kurdish is not acceptable
Fatma Bostan Ünsal noted that it is not right for the government, in the context of the Kurdish question, to present the issue to society mainly within the framework of amnesty and punishment. She emphasized that it was unacceptable to prevent a Peace Mother from speaking Kurdish in the commission, and continued: “Instead of convincing society of the causes of the Kurdish question, of how much human loss and economic loss it has led to, and of how far it has distanced Turkey from being a state of law, transparency, and accountability and thus gaining consent, people are instead being persuaded that ‘no concessions have been made.’ Political culture in Turkey does not highlight issues such as ‘negotiation’ and ‘compromise.’ That is why politicians believe that the more firmly they stand on their own positions, the more advantageous they will be.
Before the 1980 military coup, there was the crisis of electing a president. If we remember that the parliament of the time gathered 100 times and still could not elect one, we can better understand the government’s current effort to convince society that ‘no concessions’ are being made. However, since Turkey has moved away from the tutelary democracy that dominated for many years, it must now fulfill the requirements of a different political culture.
This requires discussing the need to examine the root causes of the Kurdish question and the grave human rights violations it has produced, and to heal the wounds in order to build a peaceful and prosperous future. In fact, the President’s reference to mistakes of the state, such as the Diyarbakır Prison, the ‘White Toros’ vehicles, forced village evacuations, and unresolved murders was an initial step that allowed an understanding of the root causes of the Kurdish question. What is important now is to follow up on this and to work toward fostering a certain level of shared knowledge and empathy between those who have been subjected to one-sided propaganda until now and those who have been victimized for fifty years.”
Fatma Bostan Ünsal drew attention to the fact that one of the most important issues in the Kurdish question is the prohibition of the Kurdish language and the traumas it has caused. She said: “When a mother who does not know Turkish speaks Kurdish with her son in prison and is immediately interrupted, when both the son and the mother are beaten, punished in various ways, or when a mother who could only learn two words spends the entire visit repeating ‘My son… how are you?’, all of these remain vivid memories. Even if not as traumatic, labeling Kurdish expressions in parliament as an ‘unknown language,’ or most recently preventing a Peace Mother from speaking Kurdish in the commission, reminds us of these traumas. Kurdish is the natural language used by some of our Kurdish citizens; with this naturalness, it should be present in daily life as well as in official institutions.”
Ünsal underlined the importance of explaining these processes to society and noted that it is equally necessary to highlight how major regional changes are directing Turkey toward a ‘Turkish-Kurdish’ alliance. She stated: “History is often recalled, and we can remember that at the peace table after the War of Independence, the leaders of the time, using the prevailing jargon, claimed that ‘Turks are together with Kurds,’ and therefore the places where Kurds lived should remain within Turkey’s borders. Despite this claim and despite Turks and Kurds fighting together, the regions of Kirkuk and Jazira were left outside Turkey’s borders due to the impositions of imperialist powers. Kurds, who thereby became citizens of different states, naturally continue their family ties to this day. Why should it be difficult to explain this and to talk about the benefits of an arrangement that recognizes this reality?
Just as we greeted with enthusiasm the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunion of families, why should it not be possible to create grounds that allow people who were once separated by a railway to interact more easily? Furthermore, why should we not talk about how such grounds would positively contribute to the development of all Turkish industry and trade? Should it not also be considered that because we have been unable to realize such moves that would bring regional peace, we have remained powerless, in pain, and helplessly watching for two years as Israel carries out practices targeting the accumulated values of humanity?”
Returning to the rule of law is only possible through democratic politics
Fatma Bostan Ünsal emphasized that Turkey is going through a critical period in domestic politics and social peace, where crises in different areas, such as the Kurdish question, the economic crisis, natural disasters, and the erosion of institutional trust are influencing each other. She made the following assessment: “We have seen, as in the earthquakes of February 2, that the administration failed to act in ways that could have reduced the destruction caused by natural disasters, such as choosing safe settlement areas and ensuring proper construction inspections. Similarly, the absence of firefighting aircraft and the lack of sufficient training for personnel in combating fires have resulted in the burning of vast areas and the inability to prevent the deaths of many officials and volunteers during firefighting efforts. Furthermore, the fact that fake diplomas were issued by infiltrating the documentation systems of official institutions such as e-Government and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) undermines confidence in the state.
The malfunctioning of the judiciary, widespread allegations of corruption within the judiciary, the empowerment of mafia groups, the rapid and extreme inflation that has placed civil servants and retirees in severe financial difficulty, and the departure of capital and qualified labor abroad due to the erosion of the rule of law. All these factors reveal features similar to what is termed in the literature as a ‘failed state.’
In such an environment, it is natural that there is no trust in governance. The way out of this situation is only possible by returning to the rule of law and advancing through democratic politics.”