At a Glance

• DEM Party lawmaker Sirri Sakik says the PKK has fulfilled its responsibilities in Turkey’s ongoing peace process.
• He calls for the immediate release of Selahattin Demirtas, Figen Yuksekdag and other political prisoners.
• Sakik criticizes delays in the process and says access to imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan remains difficult.
• He questions why the release of detained politicians should depend on a decision by Turkey’s National Security Council.

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DEM Party lawmaker Sirri Sakik has urged the Turkish government to take immediate steps in the country’s ongoing peace process, calling for the release of Selahattin Demirtas, Figen Yuksekdag and other political prisoners, while pressing for greater access to Abdullah Ocalan.

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Key Statements and Focus Areas

Sakik: The Process Cannot Afford Further Delays

Speaking in Turkey’s parliament, Sakik said two years had passed since the process began and argued that the PKK had fulfilled its responsibilities.

“The PKK has fulfilled all its responsibilities, but we are still facing difficulties in reaching Mr. Ocalan.”

He called for concrete action, arguing that continued delays risk undermining the process.

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Calls for Demirtas and Yuksekdag’s Release

Sakik demanded the immediate release of former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, as well as other detained politicians.

He questioned why their release should depend on a decision by Turkey’s National Security Council, arguing that authorities should not delay action.

Access to Abdullah Ocalan

Sakik said he had sought permission twice to visit Ocalan on Imrali Island, but that the visits had been rejected by the Justice Ministry, according to his parliamentary remarks.

He called for Ocalan to be given a role in advancing the process and said people seeking to visit him should be able to do so.

Kurdish Rights and the Peace Process

Sakik said Kurdish language, identity and culture should be protected through legislation and constitutional guarantees. He described these protections, alongside an end to violence, as essential elements of peace.

DEM Party lawmaker Sirri Sakik has criticized the Turkish government over what he described as delays in the country’s peace process, urging authorities to take concrete steps, including releasing detained Kurdish politicians and facilitating access to Abdullah Ocalan.

Addressing Turkey’s parliament, Sakik said two years had passed since the process began and argued that the PKK had fulfilled its responsibilities. He questioned why progress remained limited despite what he described as an opportunity to end decades of conflict.

Sakik called for the immediate release of Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, former co-chairs of the HDP, and other detained politicians. He challenged the need for a National Security Council decision before their cases could be addressed.

He also said he had twice requested permission to visit Ocalan, who is imprisoned on Imrali Island, but that his requests had been rejected by the Justice Ministry.

Sakik argued that Ocalan should be given a role in advancing dialogue and called for legal and constitutional protections for Kurdish language, identity and culture. He urged political parties to support the process and said the opportunity to end bloodshed should be backed by concrete measures.

The remarks reflect Sakik’s position on the peace process and do not, by themselves, establish that all parties agree on the status of disarmament or the next steps.

FYI

Turkey’s peace initiative entered a new phase after Ocalan’s February 2025 call for the PKK to disarm and dissolve, followed by the organization’s announcement in May 2025 that it would disband. The process has since involved discussions over disarmament, legal arrangements and the future of Kurdish political participation.

A key point of contention is the legal framework governing implementation. Turkey’s parliament has considered procedures tied to security institutions confirming that the PKK has ended its organizational activities and surrendered its weapons, with a National Security Council decision forming part of the process.

Sakik’s criticism highlights a broader debate over whether political and legal steps, including the status of detained politicians and Ocalan’s ability to communicate should proceed alongside disarmament. His remarks also underscore the DEM Party’s call for Kurdish rights and constitutional protections to form part of a lasting settlement. The timing and scope of further measures remain dependent on decisions by Turkey’s institutions and the parties involved.

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