KON-MED (the Confederation of Kurdistan Communities in Germany)wrote a letter to the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as the meeting of the commission enters its second day.
In September 2024, the Committee gave Turkey one year to implement the ‘Right to Hope’ in the cases of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Hayati Kaytan, Emin Gurban, and Civan Boltan.
Before the Committee’s quarterly meeting, under Rule 9.2, national and international legal organizations submitted notices stating that Turkey has not implemented the right to hope. The Association for Democracy and International Law (MAF-DAD), which also wrote to members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Committee of Ministers regarding the ECtHR’s ruling on the “right to hope,” became one of the civil society organizations most active in this process.
KON-MED said: “We write to raise an urgent concern that affects not only the Kurdish people but the democratic development of Turkey and the wider region.
In mid-July this year, the PKK took a historic, symbolic step toward disarmament—without prior conditions from the Turkish government. This unilateral gesture is a clear signal of readiness for peace. For a sustainable process, it is now essential that Turkey reciprocates—and that the Council of Europe actively supports this path.”
The letter added: “In this context, we draw attention to the European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence affirming that life imprisonment without a realistic prospect of release violates Article 3 ECHR—the so-called “right to hope.” With regard to Abdullah Öcalan, the Court found that an aggravated life sentence without the possibility of review is incompatible with Article 3. This judgment remains unimplemented. Continued non-compliance undermines fundamental human rights and blocks concrete opportunities for a renewed peace process.
We therefore respectfully urge decision-makers within the Council of Europe to:
– Press for the full implementation of the relevant ECtHR case-law, including the creation of an effective review mechanism for life sentences without prospect of release;
– Safeguard the human rights of detainees on İmralı, including regular access to family and legal counsel;
– Support steps that advance rule of law, dialogue, and a peaceful, democratic resolution of the Kurdish question.”
Ruken Akca and Kerem Gök, the co-chairs of KON-MED, said: “A peace process can succeed only if the Council of Europe sends clear signals: for peace, for dialogue, for democracy—and for the right to hope.”