Erdogan says far-right ally’s remarks on PKK leader should be evaluated

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said that his ultra-nationalist ally’s proposal to allow the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan to address the parliament should be evaluated “without prejudice.” 

The leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, recently shook hands with lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), later proposing that jailed PKK leader Ocalan be invited to address the Turkish parliament and declare the dissolution of his armed group.

Celebrating the 101st anniversary of the proclamation of the republic of Turkey on Tuesday, Erdogan said it is “increasingly important” for the people of the country to unite and swiftly address all political, social and economic issues, adding that Bahceli’s remarks should be evaluated. 

“We believe that the recent approaches put forth under the leadership of our ally in the People's Alliance should be evaluated without prejudice in light of this broader context. This approach is a necessity stemming from the ancient state wisdom and the deep-rooted experience of our nation over thousands of years,” said the Turkish president without mentioning the PKK or its leader.

Speaking at his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) meeting at the parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan commended Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) for his “open contribution to brotherhood” after Ozer said he would support a potential peace process in the country.

"We, as CHP, will fully support any effort to end terrorism,” Ozel said last week. 

However, hours later, Ozel rebuked Erdogan for thanking him for an issue related to Ocalan.

“While gratitude is important, equating the issue with one person's freedom is a proposal that fails to recognize the problem,” he said. "I am pointing to the parliament while you are showing Ocalan the parliament together with Bahceli. If you thank me by turning someone into an actor, it shows that you will continue this Ocalan-focused situation. This is neither democratic nor right." 

Talks of a renewed drive for peace and resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey after Bahceli’s latest remarks.

Hopes for a new peace process were fuelled when the government decided to allow Ocalan to see his family after more than four years of isolation. Communication with Ocalan would be a crucial step on the path to potential peace talks.

Ocalan's nephew and DEM Party lawmaker Omer Ocalan said in a post on X on Thursday morning that this was the first face-to-face meeting since March 3, 2020. The PKK leader was in “good health,” the nephew said. 

In a subsequent post, Omer Ocalan conveyed a message from his uncle that he has the power to stop the conflict.

“The isolation continues,” the post read. “If the conditions are right, I have the theoretical and practical power to pull this process from the ground of conflict and violence to the ground of law and politics.”

Ocalan has been jailed at Imrali Island, serving a life sentence since 1999.

A short-lived peace process between Turkey and the PKK in 2013 granted Kurds some rights that were previously seen as taboo, such as elective Kurdish courses at schools. Kurds have been culturally, politically, and economically repressed in Turkey for decades.

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