24.04.2025 13:00
The meeting between Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç and the DEM Party delegation from Imralı has concluded. In a statement to the press, DEM Party Deputy Group Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said, "We expressed that Öcalan cannot contribute to this process under the conditions of isolation. We may have the opportunity to see some developments on this issue in the coming days."
The DEM Party delegation stated that the current conditions of Abdullah Öcalan, who is held in İmralı Prison, hinder contributions to the political process after their meeting with Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç. Party officials expressed that there might be some developments regarding this issue in the coming days.
The meeting between the DEM Party and Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, which was postponed last week due to Sırrı Süreyya Önder's heart problem, has been completed. The meeting, which started at 10:30, included Group Deputy Chairpersons Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Sezai Temelli, and Co-Chairperson responsible for the Human Rights Commission Öztürk Türkdoğan from the DEM Party delegation.
"ÖCALAN'S CONDITIONS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ADVANCING THE PROCESS"
After the meeting, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit stated, "I would like to express that our primary discussion topic is the working conditions and health conditions of Mr. Öcalan. We conveyed to the Minister that Mr. Öcalan cannot contribute to this process under isolation conditions, that his conditions are the most important issue for advancing the process, and that these conditions must be improved immediately without any ifs or buts. I believe we will have the chance to see some developments on this issue in the upcoming period," she said.
"ÖCALAN WANTS TO MEET WITH SOME JOURNALISTS"
Koçyiğit continued: "In addition, we emphasized the importance of different delegations going there, including various members of parliament, different political parties, intellectuals, writers, and journalists, as well as some intellectuals, writers, and journalists that Mr. Öcalan wants to see and meet. We expressed that the ministry needs to take swift action on this matter."
HOW DID THE PROCESS START?
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli stated at his party's group meeting on October 22, "If the isolation of the terrorist leader is lifted, let him come and speak at the TBMM DEM Party group meeting. Let him proclaim that terrorism has completely ended and that the organization has been dissolved." Following Bahçeli's statement, the DEM Party delegation applied to the Ministry of Justice on November 26, 2024, to meet with terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı.
On December 27, 2024, Justice Minister Tunç responded positively to the DEM Party's request. The first meeting of the DEM Party with PKK leader Öcalan took place on Saturday, December 28, and the second meeting was held on Wednesday, January 22. Subsequently, the DEM Party delegation visited their party members. The delegation met with Neçirvan Barzani, the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, and Mesut Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq, on Sunday, February 16, in Erbil.
After another meeting with Öcalan, the DEM Party delegation made a statement following the meeting on İmralı Island, reading Öcalan's message. In his message, Öcalan stated, "I call for the laying down of arms and I take on the historical responsibility of this call." Before the statement, the last photo of Öcalan taken on İmralı Island was also shared.