Tülay Hatimoğulları's 'We find Öcalan's model important' statement: She made remarks regarding the process

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları made statements regarding the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process, which began with the call made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli to Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the terrorist organization PKK.

Stating that she views the burning of weapons by 30 PKK terrorists as an important move, Hatimoğulları demanded legal regulations for the release of political prisoners, including former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş.

Hatimoğulları stated that the failure to release Demirtaş, despite the European Court of Human Rights' ruling, undermines trust in the process.

'PROCESS' STATEMENT FROM TÜLAY HATİMOĞULLARI

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, who was a speaker on the second day of the Middle East Research Institute forum held in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, delivered critical messages during the session titled 'Peace in Turkey: A Catalyst for Stability and Prosperity in Syria and Iraq.'

In the session moderated by Middle East Research Institute President Dilawer Alaaddin, Hatimoğulları said, 'The peace process and developments in Turkey are very important for the four parts of Kurdistan and for the Middle East,' and added the following:

'Mr. Abdullah Öcalan issued a call for peace and a democratic society from İmralı. In making this call, he was actually saying this: The Kurdish people in Turkey and in the four parts of Kurdistan [should achieve] democratization within the borders of the countries where they live, the formation of human-centered governance approaches, the resolution of the Kurdish issue through peaceful and fraternal methods, and the recognition of the rights, laws, and identity of the Kurdish people in all geographies where they live, especially in Turkey. He requested this with importance.'

Stating that the burning of weapons by PKK terrorists is important for peace, Hatimoğulları used the following expressions regarding the ceremony held in Sulaymaniyah:

"We attended the PKK's weapon-burning ceremony in Sulaymaniyah and witnessed a historic moment. Because burning weapons means wanting peace with all one's heart... But there was a very important message given at this symbolic ceremony. They demanded a special law from Turkey regarding the Kurdish issue—one that directly concerns the Kurdish people and would also accelerate the PKK's disarmament and demilitarization process—meaning that legal democratic struggle spaces should be opened to them. Of course, we are waiting for these; we expect an initiative to be taken."

HATİMOĞULLARI'S DEMAND FOR LEGAL REGULATION

Expressing that they expect legal steps from the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), Hatimoğulları said, "An important step that we also demanded, and that Mr. Öcalan also demanded, has been taken in Parliament; a commission has been established. This commission is holding its 14th meeting today... We found this hearing very important... But we stated that this would not be enough," and listed the legal steps that need to be taken as follows:

"No legal steps have been taken yet. For example, there are various laws expected in Turkey. What will the PKK members who are to lay down their arms do, and how will they participate in democratic politics? How will the way for this be opened? There is a very serious expectation regarding this issue. The second expectation is Mr. Öcalan's right to hope... the actual liberation of people who have been in prison for 25 years. We believe that Mr. Öcalan can work for peace and democracy in the four parts of Kurdistan... The issue of prisons... There are nearly 7,000 to 8,000 political prisoners in Turkey... We say that a legal regulation must begin as soon as possible."

"DEMİRTAŞ RULING REDUCES TRUST IN THE PROCESS"

Stating that the imprisonment of former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş harms trust in the process, Hatimoğulları emphasized the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling regarding Demirtaş and spoke as follows:

"There is definitely a lack of trust. I expressed this in my speech in parliament yesterday. Society has embraced peace with all its heart and wants this peace to happen. But trust is weak because no concrete steps are being taken. For example, I think most of the friends in this hall are following the process regarding Selahattin Demirtaş; the European Court of Human Rights has ruled for the third time that he should be released... Now, this causes a loss of trust in society... These things damage trust."

"The most important step is laws. That is, serious changes must be made to the existing laws in Turkey. So, what should be addressed? A special law, the right to hope—meaning the release of Öcalan—the Anti-Terror Law; these are Turkey's own laws, and the changes to be made here will be developments that will contribute significantly to the resolution of the Kurdish issue. Therefore, regarding this issue of trust and mistrust, I can say this: as the DEM Party, we are in a state of cautious optimism."

Suggesting that regional and global developments are forcing Turkey into this process, Hatimoğulları stated, "Today, this process in Turkey was initiated by Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli. Why did this process begin? Because developments in the Middle East have pushed Turkey toward a strategic shift. It is forcing this. What are these strategic shifts? Now, the Arab Spring began in the region in 2010. The Syrian War began in 2011... Especially with the occupation of Gaza that began in October 2023, we are living in a period where Israel has begun to create a very broad hegemonic space in the region."

"WE FIND ÖCALAN'S MODEL IMPORTANT"

Arguing that the nation-state concept is becoming exhausted, Hatimoğulları said, "We are in the 21st century. No one is superior to the other anymore; we are equal with the other... The nation-state understanding, where one crushes the other, has truly been exhausted. And look at the problems experienced in Iraq; the root of its internal problems lies in the nation-state."

Voicing the "democratic confederalism" model of PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan as a solution, Hatimoğulları said, "The solution must definitely move toward constitutional changes based on decentralization and the right to equal citizenship."

Stating that it is difficult for nation-states to maintain oppressive policies in the age of global communication opportunities, Hatimoğulları said, "That is why we find the democratic confederalism model developed by Mr. Öcalan important. In other words, every people and every faith should be able to express themselves within the borders of the country they live in, attain equal rights as equal citizens, and receive education in their mother tongue. This does not divide any country. On the contrary, I think it fosters strong support, strong solidarity, and a strong sense of civic unity within that society and that country."

Emphasizing Öcalan's key role in the peace process, Hatimoğulları assessed, "Mr. Öcalan is an influential leader over his own organization and the Kurdish people. Therefore, let's say if he had not made that call himself today, that weapon-burning ceremony would not have taken place... The state in Turkey knows this so well that I think everyone is now aware of Mr. Öcalan's role there... Therefore, Mr. Öcalan being free and conducting this work himself is one of the fundamental guarantees for us to achieve a healthy result in this process."

"DEVELOPMENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT"

Addressing the reasons for the slow progress of the process, Hatimoğulları criticized Turkey's foreign policy, saying, "The developments in Rojava are very important. I think everyone can see that the developments in Turkey and the developments in Rojava and Syria significantly affect each other... Unfortunately, I think this is an AKP policy, and it is a point I criticize heavily. Neo-Ottomanist dreams. I mean, look at where we have come from the point of 'zero problems with neighbors' with these Neo-Ottomanist dreams... We criticize this policy."

"IF WE CANNOT CONDUCT THIS PROCESS WITH CONVICTION, IT WILL NOT SUCCEED"

Expressing the DEM Party's belief in the peace process, the Co-Chair stated, "If we cannot conduct this process with conviction, it will not succeed... I cannot know whether it will happen or not. I mean, we are making an effort for it to happen. As the DEM Party, we are working very, very hard day and night, and we are working with conviction so that it happens, so that there is urgency, and so that this process is not derailed."

Hatimoğulları said, "In the midst of all these developments we have mentioned in the Middle East and the world, in a period where political, military, economic, and cultural developments are taking place and all power balances in the world are being reshuffled, Turkey strategically needs to make peace with the Kurds."

"THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE CURRENTLY IS THE AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATION"

Touching upon the situation in Syria, Hatimoğulları said, "Syria needs a democratic constitution. It needs a democratic structure, and right now, the only democratic structure I can mention there is the Autonomous Administration," calling for a democratic and decentralized constitution and structure for the future of Syria.

Expressing her hopes for the future, Hatimoğulları concluded her speech with these words:

"We hope that we will build together a geography that is peaceful, democratic, where we love each other very much, embrace each other tightly, and are bound to one another by an equal, democratic, and common law. We need to love and embrace each other more and turn this into a legal arrangement."