PKK leader to be released from prison? Erdogan's ally stirs Turkey

The leader of Turkey's nationalist party, Devlet Bahçeli, called for the release of PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned in isolation since 1999. The call comes as part of an initiative to disarm the organization. Bahçeli signed a draft law that received support from about 360 parliament members and is expected to be discussed in the Justice Committee. He described the move as a step to strengthen national unity and disrupt 'global projects'.

President Erdogan's ally, the leader of the nationalist party Devlet Bahçeli, surprisingly called for granting the imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan a real possibility of release. The call comes as part of an initiative in Turkey to disarm the organization and promote a settlement with the Kurds. The statements were published after Bahçeli signed a framework bill, which received signatures from about 360 parliament members and is expected to be discussed in the Justice Committee. Bahçeli said the law constitutes an additional step to strengthen national unity, and was quoted: 'With this signature, our thousand-year brotherhood was reaffirmed.' He added that this is a first step to disrupt 'global projects'. The article mentions the principle of the 'right to hope' of the European Court of Human Rights, which requires that life prisoners have an opportunity for release. Öcalan has been in isolation since 1999 and is serving a life sentence, making the call an unprecedented event.