Breaking News... DEM Party files reservation on process report: Reaction to 'terrorist organization' term

As the final report prepared by the commission established regarding the Imralı Process was released to the public, the DEM Party announced its stance on the report through a written statement. Although the party stated that it would vote "yes" on the joint report, it recorded its serious objections to the language and concepts used as a formal reservation.

While it was noted that the views and objections of each political party would be included as an annex to the report, the DEM Party announced that it decided to support the report on this condition. The statement emphasized that intensive efforts were made to reach a consensus during the preparation phase of the report.

EMPHASIS ON CONSENSUS AND SUPPORT FOR THE REPORT

In its statement, the DEM Party expressed that it adopted a constructive attitude during the preparation process of the joint report draft and included the following assessment:

"We would like it to be known that, as the DEM Party, we persistently pushed for a basis of consensus during the preparation process of the Joint Report Draft and acted with care to assume a constructive role for this purpose."

The party stated that the headings "PROPOSALS FOR LEGAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE PROCESS" and "PROPOSALS REGARDING DEMOCRATIZATION" in the report could serve as a guide, and declared that it would continue to contribute to a democratic future.

OPEN OBJECTION TO "TERROR" CONCEPTS

The DEM Party emphasized that some expressions used in the report were unacceptable, specifically objecting to the concepts of "Terror-Free Turkey process," "terrorist organization," and "scourge of terror." The statement argued that these expressions do not align with the spirit of the process.

Regarding the naming of the process, the party expressed the view that the current definition is one-sided. The DEM Party announced that it defines the process as the "Peace and Democratic Society Process," with reference to the call made by Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, 2025.

Furthermore, it was stated that instead of the phrase "Terror-Free Turkey" in the report, the definition of a "National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy" process should be used, in accordance with the name of the commission established within the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

"THE KURDISH QUESTION CANNOT BE DEFINED BY TERROR"

In the DEM Party statement, the handling of the Kurdish question through the concept of "terror" was explicitly opposed. It was emphasized that the issue is a matter of rights and freedoms with political, social, economic, cultural, and historical dimensions.

It was stated that it is unacceptable to insist on old definitions at a time when efforts are being made to end the conflict that has been ongoing for over forty years. It was noted that addressing grievances in a one-sided manner in the report means ignoring the suffering experienced by the Kurdish people.

RESERVATION ON THE TERM "TERRORIST ORGANIZATION"

The statement also clearly opposed the use of the term "terrorist organization" in the report. The DEM Party stated that it does not find it correct to define the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom and equality in this way.

While it was argued that this approach contradicts the claim of the report being presented as a "Turkey model," it was emphasized that social values cannot be built through one-sided definitions. It was stated that a common future would be possible by standing at an equal distance to the values of all peoples and beliefs.

EMPHASIS ON THE APPROACH TO ÖCALAN

The DEM Party stated that the approach toward PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, whom it views as one of the executors of the process, is of critical importance. The statement expressed that Öcalan has made efforts for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question since 1993 and has contributed to the peace process in the recent period.

For this reason, it was stated that mentioning Öcalan and the process he is conducting alongside the concepts of "terror" and "terrorist organization" in the report does not comply with the law and requirements of the process.

RESERVATION ON MOTHER TONGUE AND MULTILINGUALISM

The DEM Party also drew attention to the expressions under the heading "REGULATIONS REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS" in the report. The statement emphasized that the right to one's mother tongue is an innate, inviolable, and inalienable human right.

It was stated that the mother tongue is not merely a means of communication; it is a fundamental element that determines the way of thinking, learning processes, and social belonging. It was noted that restrictions on the mother tongue, especially Kurdish, must be lifted and that there should be reconciliation with multilingualism.

"IF THE LANGUAGE IS FRAGILE, THE RESULT IS ALSO FRAGILE"

At the end of its statement, the DEM Party made a general assessment regarding the language of the report. While it was stated that the text should not be one-sided, a call was made to reconsider concepts that create traumatic effects in different segments of society.

The statement concluded with the following expressions:

"Peace is not just the result; it is also the method and the language itself. Let us not forget that if the language is fragile, the result also carries the potential to be fragile."

News Source: 12punto