The Peace Mothers Council in Izmir held a press conference at the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Aegean Regional Representation Office regarding the interim decision of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on the Right to Hope in the case of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been incarcerated in İmralı Island Prison in Turkey since 1999.
The Peace Mothers criticized the provisional decision made by the Committee of Ministers during its meeting on human rights from September 15 to 17. The Committee, which had given Turkey one year to implement the “Right to Hope” in the case of Abdullah Öcalan, Hayati Kaytan, Emin Gurban, and Civan Boltan in its 2024 meeting, gave Turkey another deadline and requested information by the end of June 2026. The Committee referred to the Peace and Democratic Society Process and suggested making use of the “terror-free Turkey” initiative and the recently established “National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission”.
‘The Kurdish people, our Leader, and the PKK did their part’
Peyruze Kurt, spokesperson for the Peace Mothers Council in Izmir, stated that extending the deadline given to Turkey is unacceptable, saying: “They should not bargain over the blood of our children. They should not sit comfortably in their seats while the blood of our children remains on the ground. They should make a conscientious decision. They should not extend the decision period but rather act quickly and be clear. We also appeal to the Turkish state: our children’s blood has been shed for years. For 27 years, the Kurdish People’s Leader has been held in Imrali. For 50 years, mothers who lost their children have been crying. For years, we have extended our hands to them for peace. As a result, they made a call and said that the Kurdish People’s Leader should come and speak to parliament. The Kurdish people, our Leader, and the PKK did their part. The PKK dissolved itself, and we witnessed the entire process. We are all ready to do whatever is necessary. They made the call, but why are they prolonging the process? They should take a clear step now and make a sound decision. They should immediately implement the ‘Right to Hope’.”
Kurt continued: “The Kurds want rights and justice. We want this dirty war to end, and the bloodshed to stop. Every single day the mothers cry and we receive news of deaths. We mourn without being able to get the bodies of our loved ones. How much longer will this go on? Blood cannot be washed away with blood. Bloodshed stops with freedom and peace. The Kurdish people are known for peace and freedom, and they are calling for it. We call on Turkey and all international states to make an equitable and fair decision. We also appeal to the commission in parliament. We have not understood what the commission has done so far. Our mother tongue has been denied there. With whom will they build peace? Peace and freedom can be achieved through our leader. Leader Öcalan’s physical freedom must be secured, the right to hope must be implemented, conditions must be improved, and prisoners must be released. We have done everything that falls upon us. Freedom for Leader Öcalan, the Kurdish people, and Kurdistan.”