Bahceli had called for 'Demirtas should return home'! A response came from Erdogan's aide

09.08.2026 09:50

Following MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's call for 'Öcalan to hope, Demirtaş to return home,' a statement came from Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. Noting that Abdullah Öcalan is not covered by the current regulation, Yılmaz said that whether Selahattin Demirtaş can benefit from the regulation will be decided by the relevant judicial authorities.

The "Milli Solidarity and Strengthening of Social Integration Law Proposal," prepared within the scope of the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, was accepted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Justice Commission after 18 hours of deliberations.

After the commission's discussions on the proposal, commonly referred to as a "framework law," were completed, debates began over who the regulation would cover.

YILMAZ: OCALAN NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE REGULATION

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz answered frequently asked questions about the regulation.

Stating that PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Ocalan is not within the scope of the current regulation, Yilmaz said that no matter concerning Ocalan is included in the proposal.

Yilmaz stated, "We now need to achieve results; we must rid our country of this 50-year problem."

Yilmaz, noting that Turkey has the state capacity to resolve the issue in question, argued that the process must be concluded.

ANSWERED THE DEMIRTAS QUESTION

Yilmaz was also asked whether former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas could benefit from the regulation.

Emphasizing that legal regulations cannot be prepared specifically for certain individuals, Yilmaz said:

"A regulation cannot concern a specific person. You make a general regulation, a legal arrangement, and whoever it applies to, everyone can benefit from it."

"THE DECISION WILL BE MADE BY JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES"

Without making a direct assessment on whether Demirtas would benefit from the regulation, Yilmaz said the decision would be made by the relevant judicial authorities.

Thus, after Bahceli's call for Demirtas's release, a statement on the issue came from the Presidential side, to which all eyes had turned.

BAHCELI HAD SAID "DEMIRTAS SHOULD RETURN HOME"

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli, in a previous statement, advocated granting "right to hope" for Abdullah Ocalan while also calling for Selahattin Demirtas's release.

Bahceli had expressed his stance with the words, "Ocalan should hope, Demirtas should return home."