IZMIR - Speaking about the “right to hope” decision, women from DAD stated that the “right to hope” is a hope for the people and that everyone is waiting for this hope, demanding Abdullah Öcalan's freedom for peace. 

 

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CMCE) announced its interim decision on September 18 regarding the “Gurban Group” case, which covers the “right to hope” of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, Emin Gurban, Civan Boltan, and Hayati Kaytan. The Committee called on Turkey to take “urgently necessary steps” and requested information on the matter by the end of June 2026.

 

Reactions to the Committee's decision to extend the deadline continue. Women from the Democratic Alevi Associations also reacted to the AKBK decision, demanding the implementation of the “principle of hope.” 

 

'Principle of hope'

 

Referring to Abdullah Öcalan's appeal to the Committee of Ministers, DAD Co-Chair Kadriye Doğan said: "Mr. Abdullah Öcalan brought the concept of the ‘principle of hope’ to the agenda rather than the ‘right to hope’. In other words, he called for compliance with his own principles. Rather than individual rights, he told the Council of Europe to ‘adhere to your principles’. This is very important.

 

'Öcalan must be free for peace'

 

Kadriye Doğan stated that Abdullah Öcalan, in his Call for Peace and a Democratic Society, called on all segments of society to organize, establish their communities, and raise their demands for democracy. Kadriye Doğan continued: "In other words, 'organize, rebuild yourselves. Instead of waiting for hope from outside, become the hope yourselves.'" 

 

Kadriye Doğan stated, “The principle of hope must be put into practice. Öcalan's physical freedom must be secured for peace. He must meet with all segments of society and the world.” 

 

'The commission must listen to Öcalan'

 

Reminding that Turkey has always denied different beliefs and peoples, Kadriye Doğan said, "The denial of peoples and beliefs is an injustice. We must be freed from this injustice. Therefore, it is everyone's responsibility to embrace the process initiated by Mr. Öcalan and bring it to completion. Most importantly, the commission established in parliament must take on this responsibility, listen to Mr. Öcalan, and fulfill its duty to bring him together with his people. If this happens, peace will come to Turkey, the Middle East, and Mesopotamia." 

 

 

'We are waiting for hope'

 

Nebat Çelik, co-chair of the DAD Izmir Branch, also stated that it was too late to implement the “right to hope” and that this right should be recognized for all political prisoners in prison. Nebat Çelik said, “I hope the right to hope is implemented as soon as possible. The right to hope is also a hope for Turkey and its people. We are all waiting for this hope. I hope the right to hope is implemented as soon as possible.” 

 

 

‘The right to hope must be implemented for a democratic country’

 

Semra Acar Maydan, a member of the DAD Izmir Branch, who stated that the “right to hope” is valuable in the Alevi struggle, emphasized that the “right to hope” must be implemented for humanity and for a democratic country. Stating that the non-implementation of the “right to hope” constitutes a violation of rights, Semra Acar Maydan said, “There have been hundreds of similar rights violations in the past. Our call is for the ‘right to hope’ to be implemented, for there to be peace in Turkey. For there to be a democratic country where everyone can live freely and under equal conditions.”