01.11.2026 09:50
DEM Party Şanlıurfa MP Mithat Sancar announced that Abdullah Öcalan had been moved to a new place prepared for him on İmralı Island. Sancar, who denied the relocation claims in August, stated that there had been a pause in the process for the last two months and argued that Öcalan should take a more active role.
DEM Party Şanlıurfa MP and İmralı Delegation member Mithat Sancar made statements about Abdullah Öcalan’s conditions on İmralı Island in a program he attended on Media News TV on the evening of October 31.
Stating that Öcalan had moved to a new place prepared for him, Sancar said this development was important for the ongoing process. Sancar said, “Öcalan has moved to the new place built on İmralı. Öcalan’s acceptance of moving there requires acceleration.”
However, Sancar did not provide details about the physical features of the new building, the date on which the move took place, or Öcalan’s working conditions there.
HE HAD DENIED THE MOVE CLAIMS IN AUGUST
Mithat Sancar’s latest statement drew attention because he had rejected claims on the same issue in August.
At a meeting with journalists in Ankara on August 26, Sancar had said that reports that Öcalan had been moved to a new compound on İmralı did not reflect the truth.
Stating at that time that the meetings were held in a different hall but that the place where Öcalan was staying had not changed, Sancar had used the following expressions:
“We hold our meetings in a different hall, but Öcalan continues to stay in his old place. At the moment, assessments that he has been moved to a new place and that he is continuing his work there do not reflect the truth.”
“THERE HAS BEEN A PAUSE IN THE PROCESS FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS”
Making assessments about the Peace and Democratic Society Process on the program as well, Sancar said that the expected progress had not been achieved for the last two months.
Stating that some previously set timetables had not been implemented, Sancar said, “There has been a pause in the process for the last two months. Certain dates were in question, but they did not materialize.”
Arguing that after the PKK’s steps the relevant committee should go to İmralı, Sancar drew attention to the importance of Öcalan taking a more active role in the process.
Sancar used the expressions, “The committee that will work with Öcalan is the Peace and Politicization Committee.”
“ÖCALAN MUST COORDINATE THE PROCESS”
Arguing that Öcalan’s coordinating role needed to become clear for the process to move forward, Sancar stated that political and institutional arrangements were needed for this.
Sancar said, “For the process to move forward, Öcalan must coordinate the process. This is a very important factor.”
Voicing that the process could not be carried out solely with one-sided expectations, Sancar also criticized the state’s approach.
Sancar used the expressions, “I am not of the opinion that this is an insurmountable issue, but for it to be overcome, the state side must move away from an insistent and rigid attitude.”
HE CALLED FOR JOURNALISTS TO MEET WITH ÖCALAN
Mithat Sancar argued that allowing journalists to meet with Abdullah Öcalan would contribute to eliminating uncertainties and speculation about the process.
Saying, “The press meeting with Öcalan would eliminate speculation,” Sancar claimed that the government had not taken sufficient steps for the process to be adopted by society.
Stating that political pressures increased distrust in society, Sancar said that the current approach needed to change for the process to move forward.