"The right to hope regulation undoubtedly a step that must be taken"

2025-05-09 10:05:17


	AMED – Lawyer Diyar Çetedir emphasized that for the process to progress, Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom should be ensured, and he should engage with society. He also stressed that urgent steps should be taken regarding the "right to hope," independently of the process.

	After Abdullah Öcalan's February 27th "Peace and Democratic Society" call, discussions about the process continue. Among the necessary steps, the "right to hope" regulation is seen as vital. Despite the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in 2014, the state has not taken any action for 11 years, and calls for action persist from various groups in Kurdistan and Turkey.

	 

	Diyar Çetedir, a member of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) in Amed (Diyarbakır) highlighted that the recent meetings after 4.5 years of communication isolation do not mean the isolation has ended. Referring to the ECHR’s ruling, he said, "Turkey, as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, must comply with ECHR rulings, including the 'right to hope.' There should be no debate about it."

	 

	‘URGENT STEPS MUST BE TAKEN’

	 

	Çetedir pointed out that fundamental rights should not be linked to political processes. He noted that the ECHR's ruling on the "right to hope" came due to the prohibition of torture, and a government that once promised "zero tolerance to torture" should not discuss this right based on a process. "The 'right to hope' and the process should be discussed separately," he said.

	 

	‘RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE INVOLVED’

	 

	Çetedir emphasized the need for administrative and judicial mechanisms to address the "right to hope," involving national and international human rights organizations. He added that such mechanisms are crucial to prevent unlawful decisions regarding this right.

	 

	For the process to proceed smoothly, Çetedir stressed that Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom must be ensured, and he should be able to meet with intellectuals, politicians, and his supporters. "Creating a space for free communication is essential for a successful process," he said.

	 

	Finally, Çetedir stated that for the process to succeed, all segments of society must play an active role, starting with a shift in political language. He emphasized the need for a more inclusive, less exclusionary discourse. Society, he said, must contribute boldly to the process for it to move forward.

	 

	MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıgüzel