ANKARA — Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Spokesperson Aysegul Dogan has called on the government to clearly state its position regarding the possibility of the parliamentary commission meeting with Abdullah Ocalan leaving no room for ambiguity or speculation. 

 

Speaking at a press conference at her party’s headquarters, Aysegul Dogan said Turkey must implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and take concrete steps to uphold them. She added that the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission should meet with the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan. 

 

Referring to the ECHR’s finalized ruling that Turkey violated the rights of former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, she said: “We have all been closely following the news, waiting every minute for the announcement of his release. What needs to be done is clear, yet it is still not being done. The unlawful insistence that has continued for nine years persists. Selahattin Demirtas’ detention must end immediately, without further delay.”

 

‘NO LEGAL JUSTIFICATION TO KEEP MIZRAKLI IMPRISONED’

 

Aysegul Dogan also said that Selcuk Mizrakli, former co-mayor of Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality, has become eligible for supervised release. She said: “One injustice follows another. As Demirtas himself says, his only companion in the cell, Selcuk Mizrakli, applied in September for transfer to an open prison and release on probation since less than a year remained for his sentence. The Prison Administration and Observation Board rejected his request, citing his alleged failure to declare that he had ‘disassociated himself from a terrorist organization’. There is no need to search for excuses to unlawfully keep Selcuk Mizrakli in prison.”

 

‘THIS IS A TIME FOR CONCRETE STEPS’

 

Commenting on the on-going work of the commission in the parliament for the solution of the Kurdish issue, Aysegul Dogan said: “While following the commission’s work, we must also stop persisting in these legal violations. These contradictions must be resolved. We are in a period when not words, but concrete, lawful steps that establish justice are required, such as recognizing the rulings of the Constitutional Court and the ECHR. Doing so alone would restore much of the public’s damaged sense of trust.”

 

She also criticized the indictment prepared against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, stating that her party would continue to defend “the will of the people, the rule of law, judicial independence, and democratic politics, whatever the cost.”

 

‘WE REJECT THE 2026 BUDGET’

 

Aysegul Dogan said her party does not view the government’s proposed budget as one that ensures stability and prosperity. “That is why we say no to the 2026 budget. For bread and peace, we will organize marches from various provinces to Ankara in November and December,” she announced.

 

‘THE COMMISSION SHOULD VISIT IMRALI’

 

Responding to a journalist’s question about right wing IYI Party Chair Musavat Dervisoglu’s remark that “President Erdogan does not want the commission to visit İmralı Island,” she said the commission should not hesitate to do so. “On the contrary, not going would mean missing a lasting opportunity. The ruling bloc must clearly express its stance on this issue, leaving no room for doubt. Recently, the Speaker of Parliament, in his capacity as head of the commission, stated that the members would convene to discuss this agenda. We believe the commission should indeed decide to visit Imrali,” Aysegul Dogan said.