Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) MP Ali Bozan evaluated the second phase of the “Democratic Society and Peace” process, stating that the state’s decision to stretch the process over time has created serious distrust in society. Bozan emphasized that concrete steps must be taken without delay.
Bozan said that since October 2024, the process has been continuously delayed and stalled, particularly from the state side. He noted that while there is hope and belief in society regarding the process, trust has yet to be established.
Bozan said, “There is hope in society, there is belief in the process, but there is no trust. This trust must be built, and concrete steps need to be taken without any hesitation or conditions.”
Most concrete steps have come from the Kurdish movement
Bozan said that almost all of the concrete steps taken so far have come from the Kurdish Freedom Movement, while no practical steps have been taken by the state. He described this as one of the biggest shortcomings of the process. Bozan said, “This is the biggest shortcoming so far. The state needs to address this deficiency as soon as possible.”
Bozan also stressed that the transitional law, widely referred to in public as the “process law,” should be brought to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly without delay, noting that it would constitute an important step for the future of the process. Bozan said, “Bringing it to parliament would be a small but critical step for the process. Until now, the state mindset has approached the process only through the silence of weapons or the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). However, the transitional law only corrects one of the outcomes of the process. The real issue is eliminating the causes.”
Trustees must be withdrawn immediately
Bozan stated that there are many concrete steps the state can take within the framework of existing laws and said that the appointment of trustees must end immediately. He noted that the parliamentary report clearly states that the practice of appointing trustees should not exist in democracies and pointed out that the report was also signed by members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Bozan also said that the release of prisoners in the Kobanê trial, as well as figures such as Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, would be among the confidence-building steps. He stressed that these are not major political moves but concrete steps that could be taken in a short time. Bozan added that there is no need for a new legal regulation for sick prisoners to receive treatment under appropriate conditions and that the implementation of existing laws would be sufficient.
Bozan stated that the second phase of the process is the “positive integration process” and emphasized that the necessary conditions must be created for the Kurdish Freedom Movement to operate within democratic politics during this stage. He said these steps should be taken within a clear and explicit legal framework, adding that after the parliamentary commission announces its report, the process has now moved to the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Bozan said, “From now on, all political parties, both those in power and those in opposition, must carry this process forward.”
Öcalan’s status must be clarified legally
Bozan recalled that Abdullah Öcalan has been held in Imralı Prison for 27 years and noted that the state has conducted official talks with him. He said that Öcalan’s status must be clarified legally and that the legal basis for this is the “right to hope.”
Bozan also cited rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the right to hope, stating that Turkey must fulfill the requirements of these decisions. He added that a constitutional amendment is not necessary and that a small amendment to the execution law could provide a solution.
Education in the mother tongue is a right
Bozan said that at the core of the process lies the constitutional and legal recognition of the identity, language and culture of the Kurdish people, emphasizing that education in the mother tongue is a fundamental right.
Bozan said, “Education in the mother tongue is a right, and this right should no longer be a matter of debate. Clear and explicit legal regulations on this issue must be introduced in parliament.”
Society expects concrete steps
Ali Bozan also spoke about his observations from meetings held on the ground, stating that society has been waiting for concrete steps in the process for a year and a half. Bozan said, “If these steps are not taken, society’s trust in the process will continue to decline day by day.”
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