Farnaz Attiya: Leader Ocalan’s presence in prison is no longer justified

Reactions welcoming the historic call of leader Abdullah Ocalan, published on February 27, which calls for peace and a democratic society, continue.  The Egyptian researcher and doctor of political science, Farnaz Attiya, confirmed that leader Abdullah Ocalan's call for a ceasefire and peace is an important step towards resolving this historical dilemma. Turkey's stance on the initiative Farnaz Attiya pointed out that Ankara has not shown any positive change in its policy towards the Kurds so far, but has continued to launch attacks against the Kurds, both within its territory and in Syria. She said, "After Ocalan announced his initiative, we did not see any positive movement from the Turkish side; the attacks continued, even against the Syrian Kurds. On the internal front, Turkey still practices discriminatory policies against the Kurds, depriving them of their cultural and linguistic rights."  Farnaz Attiya confirmed that this behavior puts the ball in the Turkish government's court, either to respond to Ocalan's peaceful call and change its approach, or face increasing international criticism due to its ongoing violations.  Internal disturbances and their impact on Turkey's policies  Dr. Farnaz Attiya addressed the internal situation in Turkey, particularly after the arrest of politician Ekrem İmamoğlu and the resulting global condemnation. She said, "These events may put pressure on the ruling Justice and Development Party to review its policies, especially with the increasing international criticism of its record on human rights and democracy."  She explained: "There is a high probability that these disturbances will lead to a change in power, which could open the door to a more open approach towards the Kurds, whether within Turkey or in neighboring countries like Iraq and Syria."  The importance of releasing leader Abdullah Ocalan  In another context, the researcher emphasized the necessity of releasing leader Abdullah Ocalan, especially after his detention period in prison exceeded 25 years, which is the maximum duration for a life sentence according to Turkish law itself. She considered that his release would be a necessary step to prove Turkey's seriousness in reconciling with the Kurds.  Farnaz Attiya confirmed that: "Ocalan's imprisonment is no longer justified, especially after his peace initiative, and Turkey should take this step as part of the peace process."  Necessary reforms to achieve peace  Farnaz Attiya believes that achieving peace requires fundamental reforms, including amending the Turkish constitution to abolish laws that oppress the Kurds, ending military interventions in Kurdish areas, and compensating those affected by the conflicts. She noted that if Turkey seeks seriously to achieving peace, it must take into consideration taking tangible steps, such as admitting the Kurds' rights, making constitutional reforms, and pushing away aggressive policies against them."    Farnaz Attiya emphasized that these initiatives could mark a new beginning for stable relations between Turkey and the Kurds and contribute to bringing peace to the turbulent Middle East.

 T/S ANHA