Bahçeli says Öcalan should aid gov’t-led PKK process

ANKARA

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli has said jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan should further contribute to what the government calls its “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, following parliament’s approval of legislation tied to the process.

“Conditions need to be created that will enable Abdullah Öcalan to continue contributing to the process in the upcoming period,” Bahçeli told daily Türkgün in remarks published on Aug. 17.

The initiative began with Bahçeli’s call in October 2024 for Öcalan to urge PKK to end its campaign. It was later followed by the terror group’s decision to dissolve itself and lay down arms and the submission of a framework law to parliament.

Lawmakers approved the 12-article Law on National Solidarity and Strengthening Social Integration on Aug. 10, with 467 voting in favor, 87 against and seven abstaining.

Bahçeli said the legislation marked the beginning of a new phase involving legal and administrative measures and pledged to make the “terror-free Türkiye” vision a permanent state policy.

“The memories of our martyrs and veterans who fell for the homeland, nation, flag and all sacred values, as well as their respected families, have not been tarnished in the slightest during the process. I want to emphasize that we have reached this stage thanks to them, as a result of their sacred struggle,” Bahçeli said.

“There has been no secret bargaining or a path pursued without the knowledge of our citizens... The sole objective is to completely remove terrorism and separatism from our country’s agenda and the minds of our nation and to eliminate all elements and areas from which terrorism grows and is nourished.”

The MHP leader also described parliament’s approval of the law as the start of a new stage for legal and administrative arrangements.

He said controversial issues, including the implementation of European Court of Human Rights rulings, would be reviewed as part of the initiative.

The remarks could have implications for jailed and convicted politicians whose cases have been the subject of ECHR rulings, an issue that has remained politically contentious in Türkiye.

Bahçeli also warned of what he described as domestic and foreign groups seeking to undermine the process through provocations and false claims.

“I invite our esteemed nation to be vigilant against provocations,” he added.

On Aug. 15, two senior lawmakers from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) visited Selahattin Demirtaş, a former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and Selçuk Mızraklı, a former mayor of Diyarbakır, at Edirne Prison.

DEM Party MPs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar said addressing the situation of Demirtaş and others would contribute to establishing peace and democracy.”

The lawmakers have served as intermediaries between Ankara and Öcalan as part of the government’s initiative.

Their visit to Edirne came two days after they met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 13. Before their talks, Buldan had said that “all issues, including Demirtaş’s release,” would be on the agenda.

The ECHR has found violations concerning his detention. Türkiye’s request to refer the judgment to the court’s Grand Chamber was rejected in November 2025.