Following the historic call made by Leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, the Kurdish freedom movement has taken many concrete steps, yet no practical action has been taken from the state’s side. The Kurdish people and movement demanded, as the first step, the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling that found a violation of Öcalan’s “right to hope” and the securing of his physical freedom.
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE CM), after its meeting held between September 15–17, once again called on Turkey to bring the “right to hope” into legal alignment with the ECHR decision. Despite this, the state and government have taken no steps regarding the issue.
Speaking to ANF on the matter, Kerem Canpolat, Co-Chair of the Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations of Families of Prisoners and Convicts (MED TUHAD-FED), emphasized the nature and historical significance of the process, saying: “First of all, we want to state that the current process is extremely valuable. This is not only for Turkey and Kurdistan but also for the Middle East and the entire region — it carries enormous potential for humanitarian, moral, conscientious, and legal gains. At a time when there is a serious picture of war in the Middle East, the importance of this process is even clearer. Exactly in such a period of war, massacres, and immense human suffering, the Kurdish political movement, responding to Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s call, has taken very important steps. These steps represent tremendous sacrifice.”
Canpolat continued his criticism of the state’s approach to the process as follows: “Despite all these good-faith and historic steps, the state’s attitude lacks seriousness. No visible practical steps have been taken. The architect and initiator of this process is Mr. Abdullah Öcalan; yet he remains under severe isolation. The commission’s insistence on not meeting with Mr. Öcalan is also linked to this policy of isolation. This situation shows the state’s insincerity toward the process. At this point, Mr. Öcalan’s physical freedom is necessary. He is the only person who can overcome this deadlock. This is where the ‘right to hope’ comes into play.”
If the state wants peace, it must take action
Canpolat emphasized that the state must take legal steps without delay regarding the “right to hope,” saying: “If the state truly wants peace, it must ensure the physical freedom of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. Mr. Öcalan is the main actor in the peace process and should be able to communicate freely with all sectors of society in Turkey. This process is one of renewing the law of brotherhood and will shape our future for centuries to come. The peace to be achieved will bring great benefit not only to Turkey but to all peoples. But the path to this passes through Mr. Öcalan’s freedom. As long as Öcalan remains imprisoned, the peace table will remain incomplete. All oppressed peoples must insist on this. The state’s language should no longer be one of delay. The future of the peoples is at stake. We say and insist that the state must clarify its stance immediately. The state’s implementation of the ‘right to hope’ for Mr. Öcalan will demonstrate its approach to this process.”
The right of hope is denied to thousands of prisoners
Canpolat also pointed out that, alongside Leader Öcalan, the “right to hope” of many other prisoners has been violated, saying: “To keep a person in prison for life and make them live with that sense of hopelessness is, in itself, an act of cruelty. Through the person of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, the state insists on not implementing the ‘right to hope.’ Thousands of prisoners in Turkey are serving aggravated life sentences. If there is talk of brotherhood and reconstruction, then this law of brotherhood must be implemented first, not just in words but in practice. The state must urgently pass the necessary legislation and implement the ‘right to hope.’ Any delay would be a step backward for all peoples and would benefit no one. The state must take the necessary steps without losing time and put the right to hope into effect without further delay.”