DEM Party issues statement following second meeting with Öcalan

Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party issued a brief statement upon their second meeting with Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island. The delegation shared updates, saying preparations were "ongoing" and public statements would follow.

Friday January 24 2025 10:21 am

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Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party on Jan. 23 released a written statement following a second meeting with the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan.

The İmralı Delegation held a meeting with Öcalan on Jan. 22, 2025, on İmralı Island.

DEM Parti İmralı Heyetinin Sayın Abdullah Öcalan’la dün yapılan görüşmenin ardından yaptığı açıklama:https://t.co/tWpkoh4bI9 pic.twitter.com/dDv9f1y3TX
— DEM Parti (@DEMGenelMerkezi) January 23, 2025

According to the statement, Öcalan expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic fire in Bolu and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

"Mr. Öcalan is continuing his work related to the process. Once preparations on these matters are complete, necessary statements will be made to the public," noted the statement briefly.

The delegation reiterated its determination to continue its efforts and engagements, vowing to keep the public informed as developments occur.

"This process aims to allow all of us to live together freely. With the hope of achieving this, we await the valuable contributions of all social groups,” concluded the statement.

The reason for the delegation's brief statement was revealed to be the Kartalkaya fire. Sources indicated that the loss of life in the fire and the nation’s mourning influenced the brevity. The delegation may issue a more detailed statement in the coming days.

What happened?

On Oct. 22, Erdoğan ally, far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli made a surprise proposal to end the conflict between Turkey and the PKK, suggesting in October that Öcalan should announce an end to the insurgency at the Parliament in exchange for the possibility of his release.

On December 28, a delegation that included DEM Party lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder traveled to İmralı Island to meet with Öcalan.

Following the meeting, Buldan and Önder, joined by Ahmet Türk, conducted visits to political parties in Ankara.

The delegation included DEM Party lawmakers Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan once again. The meeting lasted about four hours.

The previous meeting was again held on Dec. 28 on İmralı Island, south of Istanbul.

Following the meeting on the İmralı Island, Öcalan said he was “ready to take (the) necessary positive step and make the call,” in response to Bahçeli.

Öcalan has been serving a life sentence in a prison on the İmralı Island since his capture 26 years ago.

Previously, Bahçeli on several occasions called for the closure of the DEM Party over its alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkey and its Western allies deem the PKK a "terrorist" group. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which in the past was focused in the mainly Kurdish southeast but is now centered on northern Iraq, where the PKK is based.