What is the 'right to hope'? What does the 'right to hope' mentioned by Devlet Bahçeli mean? Who can benefit from it?

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli made important statements regarding current issues at his party's weekly group meeting. Starting his remarks by saying, "Today I will speak directly from the book, and I will be clear enough to leave no room for interpretation," Bahçeli took his call from last week regarding terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan further in the context of the resolution process. Bahçeli stated, "If the isolation of the terrorist leader is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party Group Meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Let him declare that terrorism has ended and the organization has been disbanded."

"LET THE WAY BE OPENED FOR THE USE OF THE RIGHT TO HOPE"

In the continuation of his statement, Bahçeli said, "If he shows this determination, let the way be opened wide for the necessary legal arrangements regarding the use of the right to hope. We are determined and faithful to take every step. Let us empty the baggage on the basis of a new century and a new life, and let us achieve our national goals together."

WHAT IS THE RIGHT TO HOPE?

The concept of the "right to hope," which has recently come to the fore in the legal world, has become a major subject of debate in terms of social and individual rights. This concept, which advocates for people's right to hold hope for the future, raises important questions regarding the right to life, especially for prisoners serving long-term sentences.

The right to hope emphasizes that individuals have the right to harbor hope for the future, no matter how difficult their circumstances may be. Legal experts state that this right is of critical importance, especially for prisoners facing life imprisonment. This concept, which is also supported by the European Court of Human Rights, argues that individuals who spend their lives in prison should be reintegrated into society as part of the rehabilitation process. Courts frequently bring this issue to the agenda, arguing that a person should not be left without hope under any circumstances.

However, the right to hope is of great importance not only within the scope of criminal law but also in terms of improving the living conditions of disadvantaged segments of society. The idea that individuals should not lose their hope for the future even under social and economic difficulties allows this right to be evaluated in a broader framework.

Legal experts state that the right to hope is an important step in ensuring social justice and protecting human dignity, and they predict that this concept will be discussed even more in the coming years.

WHO CAN THE RIGHT TO HOPE BE APPLIED TO?

The right to hope is not applicable to every prisoner. This right is valid specifically for prisoners who meet certain conditions:

Those who have completed a portion of their sentence: To request conditional release, the prisoner must have served a certain portion of their sentence in prison. This period is generally determined by ratios such as two-thirds or three-quarters of the sentence.

Those who show good conduct: Not receiving disciplinary penalties during the sentence, participating in social rehabilitation programs, and demonstrating good behavior are among the most important criteria for conditional release.

Those not convicted of serious crimes: Individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, and sexual assault may not be able to benefit from the right to conditional release.

CAN THE RIGHT TO HOPE BE APPLIED TO ABDULLAH ÖCALAN?

Following MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statements, it became a matter of curiosity whether the "Right to Hope" could be applied to Abdullah Öcalan. So, can this right be applied to Abdullah Öcalan?

According to the laws of the Republic of Turkey, Öcalan cannot benefit from conditional release due to the nature of the crimes he committed. Therefore, a legal regulation is required for the right to hope to be exercised.

WHAT IS THE ANTI-TERROR LAW?

For Abdullah Öcalan to benefit from conditional release, the 4th paragraph of Article 17 of the Anti-Terror Law must be repealed.

That article stipulates that those whose sentences have been commuted from the death penalty to aggravated life imprisonment cannot benefit from conditional release and will remain in prison for life. If this provision is repealed, the time Öcalan would spend in prison would be reduced to 36 years. And he could be released by 2035 at the latest.

Some articles, including provisional Article 2 of the Execution Law, also need to be repealed, and Turkey needs to determine its own duration within the scope of the "right to hope."