10.08.2026 15:00
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan took the podium on behalf of his party during the 'Terror-Free Turkey' law debated in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. In his speech, Bakırhan used a Kurdish phrase, saying, 'In Kurdish, it is said, "Agir bi agir venamire." That is, fire is not extinguished by fire. This is the simplest truth that fifty years of conflict has taught us.'
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan took the podium on behalf of his party during the debate on the "Terror-Free Turkey" law in the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly. Stating that the regulation is not a concession or a defeat, Bakırhan gave striking messages, expressing that the process will bring prosperity to Turkey.
"IT IS NOT A CONCESSION OR DEFEAT; THE HOMELAND IS SHARED"
Tuncer Bakırhan, who made evaluations regarding the bill from the Parliament podium, emphasized that the process will not harm the indivisible integrity of the country. Addressing the Turkish people directly in his speech, Bakırhan said, "This law is not a concession, it is not about winning or losing," and continued his words as follows:
"I want to address my Turkish brothers with all my sincerity. There is nothing diminished from you in this process, and there will not be. This process will bring prosperity to Turkey. We are not opening the country's integrity to debate. What brings this country closer to division is conflict. If Kurds wanted to separate, we would not be here. The homeland is shared."
EMPHASIS ON A "FOUNDATIONAL ROLE" FOR ACTORS IN THE PROCESS
Also touching upon regional developments and the new equations in the Middle East, Bakırhan stated that the rights of those he described as the architects of the process should be acknowledged. Bakırhan conveyed the goal of bringing together Turks' security concerns and Kurds' demand for equality within the same legal order with these words:
"I want to underline the foundational role of Mr. Öcalan, who made this process possible. His efforts must be seen with fairness. We particularly acknowledge the foundational role of Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, and Devlet Bahçeli in this process. We are now looking towards a horizon that will bring Turks' security concerns and Kurds' demand for equality together within the same legal order. In the Middle East, states are being rebuilt and regional order is taking shape. The Kurdish existence, denied 100 years ago, has today become a fundamental dynamic of the Middle East."
CALL TO THE KURDISH PEOPLE: FIRE IS NOT EXTINGUISHED WITH FIRE
Continuing his speech, the DEM Party Co-Chair also called on the Kurdish people, drawing attention to the importance of peace and the legal ground. Reminding of the lessons drawn from the fifty-year conflict environment, Bakırhan said, "I call on the Kurdish people with the same clarity. This process is not about eroding our identity, but about our existence meeting with law. In Kurdish, it is said 'Agir bi agir venamire'. That is, 'Fire is not extinguished with fire'. This is the simplest truth that fifty years of conflict has taught us."
"THIS IS A FOUNDATION; THE ROOF IS THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE"
Bakırhan, who argued that there are shortcomings in the bill but sees the step taken as the construction of a foundation, explained his expectations through a house metaphor.
Bakırhan summarized his party's general perspective on the law by saying, "There are undoubtedly shortcomings in this law. Because they are not in this law, democratic rights, especially regarding mother tongue, equal citizenship, and local democracy, are not forgotten demands. These are indispensable. The function of this first step is to move from conflict to a legal ground. This is a foundation. A foundation alone is not a house. One will need to build the floors and finally lay the roof. That roof is the democratic Republic of Türkiye state."