First statement from Abdullah Öcalan's lawyer! 'Bahçeli's call is important'

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli made a new statement regarding the resolution process at his party's group meeting, saying, "If the isolation of the terrorist leader is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party Group Meeting in the TBMM. Let him declare that terrorism has completely ended and the organization has been dissolved." Bahçeli also pointed to a legal solution regarding Öcalan's situation, stating, "If he shows this resolve, let the path be opened wide for legal regulations regarding the use of the right to hope. Let the address extend from Imralı to DEM."

'LET THE DOORS BE OPENED WIDE'

Following Devlet Bahçeli's statement, Abdullah Öcalan's lawyer, İbrahim Bilmez, spoke to Gazete Duvar. Lawyer Bilmez announced that he had applied to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Imralı Penal Institution Directorate to meet with Abdullah Öcalan.

Bilmez also touched upon Bahçeli's remarks, "Let the path be opened wide for legal regulations regarding the use of the right to hope."

'WE ARE HOPEFUL'

Referring to the ECHR ruling, lawyer Bilmez said, "Turkey has been given another year regarding this issue. Bahçeli's call is important. Any call that fulfills the requirements of the law and complies with it is important. Our applications have remained unanswered for 44 months. Politics must comply with the law. We are not hopeless. We think we will get results. Bahçeli is actually saying what should be. Turkey needs to fulfill the requirements of ECHR rulings, as a state of law should."

ECHR RULING AND THE RIGHT TO HOPE

The right to hope refers to the evaluation of whether it is possible for those sentenced to imprisonment to be conditionally released due to good behavior within the periods determined by law.

With the application made by Abdullah Öcalan's lawyers to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in 2013, it was stated that the sentence imposed on Öcalan was contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which prohibits torture and other ill-treatment. In its ruling on March 18, 2014, the ECHR found that sentencing Abdullah Öcalan to aggravated life imprisonment without the possibility of conditional release was contrary to the ECHR in the context of the right to hope.

This ruling was the first decision rendered against Turkey specifically regarding the right to hope. The ECHR warned Turkey to take the necessary measures without delay, otherwise, an interim decision would be prepared at the meeting in September 2025.