Nazlıcan Nujin Yıldız 

 

IZMIR - Responding to the AKBK’s decision on the right to hope, Peace Mother Behiye Yalçın stated that the right to hope must be applied on behalf of all humanity and that the commission must fulfill its responsibility in this regard.

 

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CMCE) announced its interim decision on the “Gurban Group” case, which covers the right to hope of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, Emin Gurban, Civan Boltan, and Hayati Kaytan, following its Human Rights Meeting held between September 15-17.  

 

The decision stated that legal changes must be made within the framework of a new action plan providing a review mechanism for life sentences to ensure the swift implementation of the decisions in the Gurban Group case. Meanwhile, the committee stated that the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission could be used to implement the necessary legal regulations. In its decision, the committee gave Turkey until the end of June 2026.

 

The AKBK's decision was met with criticism from many quarters. It was stated that the right to hope must be implemented immediately and that the commission established in Parliament should also put the right to hope on its agenda.

 

Speaking about the decision, Peace Mother Behiye Yalçın stated that the right to hope must be implemented on behalf of all humanity and that the necessary steps must be taken immediately.

 

‘Let them stand by their words’ 

 

Behiye Yalçın, who said that Abdullah Öcalan has been in solitary confinement for 27 years, recalled the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in 2014 that there had been a violation of the ‘right to hope’. Behiye Yalçın said, “For 27 years, the right to hope has not been applied. The right to hope is not just a right for one person, but for all people. If this is a right, then it is also the right of the Kurdish people. The release of prisoners in prison is always delayed, and even when it ends, they give new sentences and prevent prisoners from leaving prison. There are hundreds of sick prisoners, and some sick prisoners cannot meet their needs without their friends.

 

The right to hope is for humanity. If they have any humanity, they should implement the right to hope. We do not want this only for ourselves. The blood of hundreds of Kurdish and Turkish families' children has been shed on this land. We say that neither the blood of Kurds nor Turks should be shed. The commission that has been established should do its job. 

 

Bahçeli made a call, saying the Kurdish People's Leader should come and speak in parliament. Let them do what is necessary; they proposed this. Let them clear the way for Mr. Öcalan to come and speak in parliament. If Bahçeli has taken a step, let them follow through. Let them stand by their words. This is our hope."

 

‘The right to hope must be upheld, the process must be completed’

 

Expressing that they no longer want bloodshed, Behiye Yalçın recalled the PKK’s historic ceremony, saying, “If those people burned their weapons, let them come and work on their own land, alongside their own people. Hope is hope for them, and hope for others. This is what we want. Our call applies to everywhere, to Rojava, Palestine, everywhere in the Middle East. We no longer want any mother to cry.

 

Let them release the prisoners in jail, so their mothers no longer cry, so they no longer watch the roads to prison. Kurdish mothers should no longer suffer this cruelty. No mother should have to endure this. Today, people in Palestine are dying of hunger. Let all people put their hands on their consciences. We are fighting for this bloodshed to stop. They are breaking the stones of our graves, but we will always fight for an honorable and lasting peace. The ‘right to hope’ must be implemented immediately, and this process must now be completed."