In a speech at the weekly parliamentary group meeting in the Turkish parliament, Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), called for a broad political dialogue to resolve the Kurdish question and criticized structural discrimination against minorities in Turkey. He described the recent meeting with Abdullah Öcalan as a “step towards peace.”
Meeting with Öcalan is a signal for a new political beginning
In his speech, Bakırhan emphasized that the meeting held about a week ago between the “Commission for National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy” established in parliament and the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on the prison island of Imrali had shown that the conflict over the Kurdish question could be raised to “a political level.” The move was courageous and paved the way for a possible understanding, he said, adding: “It is time to translate the right to brotherhood into a legal and democratic basis.”
While a report on the meeting is to be presented to the relevant parliamentary commission on Thursday (December 4), Bakırhan spoke in favor of making the contents public: “There is nothing to hide. It is time to take concrete steps toward a solution instead of continuing to exchange symbolic words.”
Call to all parties: Take responsibility
With regard to the role of parliament, Bakırhan called on all parties to actively participate in the search for a democratic solution. “The key lies in parliament, not in polarization,” he said. “The 100-year-old conflict can only be resolved through social consensus.”
Criticism of the CHP leader
Bakırhan sharply criticized Özgür Özel, chairman of the largest opposition party, the CHP. In a speech last week, Özel indirectly described the Kurdish population as victims of “Stockholm syndrome.” Bakırhan rejected this statement as derogatory. “We know our history, our losses, our wounds. Such statements do not contribute to a solution, but rather deepen the division,” he said.
Roma community and people with disabilities neglected
The Kurdish politician also drew attention to social inequalities and the situation of marginalized groups. He said that Sinti and Roma, members of the Dom community, and other minorities were systematically disadvantaged: “They are rejected when applying for jobs, their children are taught separately in schools, and their neighborhoods do not receive municipal services.”
People with disabilities are also barely represented in the political and financial system, according to Bakırhan. Although they make up around 13 percent of the population, the 2026 budget only allocates 1.2 percent of the budget to their needs. Among other things, he called for the budget share to be increased to at least ten percent, the annual recruitment of 20,000 people with disabilities, the expansion of barrier-free infrastructure, and the establishment of sign language as an official service language.
Criticism of the 11th Justice Package
Bakırhan also expressed criticism of the planned 11th Justice Package, which is to be debated in parliament shortly. Although it provides for reforms, he said, it fails to address key issues such as the conditions of detention of political prisoners, equal treatment in the prison system, and freedom of expression and of the press. He considered the planned regulations on internet blocking and bandwidth restrictions to be infringements on freedom of expression.
Appeal for Ilham Ehmed to be allowed to enter the country
Finally, Bakırhan called on the Turkish government to allow Kurdish politician Ilham Ehmed to enter the country to attend an international peace conference in Istanbul on 6–7 December. Ehmed, who is co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), has been invited, but no permission has been granted so far. “Dialogue and diplomacy must take precedence,” said Bakırhan. “Peace can only be achieved through direct talks, not through exclusion.”