Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February is one of the main agendas of the country. While the government and the state have not yet taken any steps towards the solution of the Kurdish issue and the democratisation of the county, there are calls from a wide range of people to ensure Abdullah Öcalan's "right to hope".

 

 

Umut Yılmaz, a lawyer and provincial co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) in Mûş, evaluated Öcalan's call and the discussions on the "right to hope".

 

Reminding that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued a "violation" decision on the "right to hope" in 2014, Yılmaz emphasised that the ECtHR's decisions are decisions of principle. Yılmaz pointed out that the decisions are not based on individuals and said, "The isolation imposed on Mr Öcalan is essentially a special execution regime. It harbours many violations of rights in itself. A personalised execution regime cannot be organised and applied. Mr Öcalan's right to see his family and to meet with his lawyers is completely prevented. These violations of rights have been written and reported many times. But they have not been fulfilled. Because the issue is a political and political issue."

 

Referring to MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli's "right to hope" statements, Yılmaz said, "It is the 27 February call that should be discussed and debated rather than the right to hope. It is the issue of disarmament, possible congress and going to the congress. The entire process to be carried out must be within the knowledge of Öcalan. For this, the special execution and isolation regime on İmralı Island Prison must change. In order to ensure the disarmament process, meetings with political parties and civil society organisations will be necessary. Therefore, there will need to be communication with the outside".

 

'A NEW CONSTITUTION IS NEEDED'

 

Emphasising the need for a law to ensure Öcalan's freedom, Yılmaz said, "Legal steps are a must for Mr Öcalan to carry out the process. The PKK defines Mr Öcalan as the chief negotiator. In this respect, not only the 'right to hope' but a broader set of laws should be brought to the Parliament and evaluated. The constitytion that constitutes the social contract in Turkey is a coup constitution. Discussing a process under the shadow of this coup constitution would be very restrictive. For this reason, a social consensus needs to be formed. A process in which all the opposition will be convinced and all segments of society will be convinced needs to emerge. This process should not only rest on the shoulders of Kurdish politics. All other segments of Turkey should also start a process like the Kurdish political movement."

 

Stating that the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has a great duty in terms of the new constitution and regulations, Yılmaz stressed: "Jurists should prepare a new constitution with a joint work plan. This issue is not only a Kurdish issue, but an issue of all segments."