The first panel of the forum, held at the Ramada Hall in Sulaymaniyah (Silemanî), featured Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Şırnak (Şirnex) MP Newroz Uysal, Abdullah Öcalan’s legal guardian and one of his lawyers Mazlum Dinç, and Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) member Kameran Osman.
Newroz Uysal underlined the importance of the current phase and said: “Although the first step after Bahçeli’s call was taken by Abdullah Öcalan, the isolation still continues. It is the commission and parliament that must build political and legal ground. The state is not taking the necessary steps. The biggest obstacle to the process is the ongoing isolation in Imralı. Abdullah Öcalan is the main interlocutor of this process. If the isolation continues, how will the process advance?”
Uysal recalled that, with the start of the process, a freedom campaign for Öcalan was also declared, and said: “Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom must be secured. This process has historical significance not only for the Kurdish and Turkish peoples, but for all the peoples of the Middle East.”
Finally, Newroz Uysal stressed that the success of the peace and democratisation process depends on the joint struggle of all peoples: “Our hope is to build a future in which everyone can live freely under a democratic social framework.”
Dinç: If initiatives and steps are accelerated, Öcalan will be freed sooner
Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyer, Mazlum Dinç, said that the most essential task is to implement Mr. Öcalan’s “Right to Hope” at the forum. Dinç also said that the European Union must implement this right and noted that the isolation continues and has no legal basis.
Dinç underlined the historical significance of Öcalan’s steps and said: “These steps target a century-long change. They are of tremendous value in terms of securing freedom and equal rights for the peoples of the region. The first step that must be taken is the amendment of the laws in parliament that block the process.”
Dinç added that the process will affect not only Turkey and Northern Kurdistan (Bakur) but the entire Middle East and the world and said: “Silence in the face of isolation makes the process harder. This is why society must wage a major struggle so that Mr. Öcalan can freely implement the steps the process requires. Until now, no positive step has been taken regarding Mr. Öcalan. Despite the isolation, Mr. Öcalan insists on fulfilling the requirements of the process. But Turkey has taken no steps so far. If we insist on Mr. Öcalan’s physical freedom and accelerate the struggle, Mr. Öcalan could become physically free soon.”
Osman: The peace process cannot be rejected, it is vital
CPT member Kameran Osman said at the forum: “The peace process is an undeniable reality. This process carries multiple decisive dimensions and directly shapes developments in the region.”
Osman then shared striking data on the impact of Turkey’s attacks on the peoples of the region and said: “In 2023, twelve civilians, and in 2024, thirty-five civilians were either killed or wounded. This year six civilians were harmed in Turkish drone attacks. In previous years, sixty-two villages in the Kurdistan Region were emptied because of Turkish attacks. Out of 1,190 affected villages, 183 were completely abandoned, and in 504 villages people cannot even move freely on their own land. But one positive result of the peace process was the increase in tourist numbers and the revival of economic activity in tourist areas.”
There were more attacks compared to previous years
Osman also said: “Before the peace process, 1,548 attacks were recorded. After the process began, Turkey carried out 1,696 attacks against the Kurdistan Region. In other words, there were significantly more attacks than in previous years. The Turkish state had not been able to build a new helicopter base since 2017, but after the peace process it is trying to do so. Trees cut in Kurdistan are being carried by tractor into Northern Kurdistan and Turkey. The highest level of tree-cutting took place this year. If the peace process fails, the Turkish state will take control of all borders of Southern Kurdistan (Başur). In fact, today it has already penetrated 30 to 40 kilometers deep and created new borders inside the existing border.”
Osman also underlined that the Kurdistan Region administration is part of this process yet is not fulfilling its responsibility. He said, “The Kurdistan Region is taking no steps to ensure that Turkey withdraws its military forces from Southern Kurdistan.”
Osman concluded with the following words: “Until now, many people who demanded the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from Southern lands were punished by Turkey’s consulate.”