NEWS CENTER– As the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, scheduled for next December, approaches, international pressure on Turkey has escalated to fulfill its obligations and implement the European Court of Human Rights rulings concerning leader Abdullah Öcalan and grant him the "right to hope."

620 international figures, including politicians, academics, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates, addressed a letter to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in which they called for the liberation of leader Öcalan, confirming that ensuring his free communication represents a fundamental step for strengthening democracy and the peace path.

The text of the letter said: "We call on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on behalf of the international campaign 'Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a political solution to the Kurdish issue,' to oblige Turkey to implement the right to hope in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the Öcalan case. Our campaign, which was launched in October 2024 with a broad alliance comprising social movements, unions, academics, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates, renews its demand for the release of Öcalan as a fateful step to ensure the success of the peace path.

The implementation of the 'right to hope' is based primarily on the fundamental role of Abdullah Öcalan in the negotiation process. This is a decisive moment to urge Turkey to fulfill its obligations as a member state of the Council of Europe, and to support the peace and democratic society path launched by Abdullah Öcalan. Activating this right represents a legal step with no alternative to liberate him from prison throughout the past twenty-seven years, and to enable him to participate effectively in the peace process as chief negotiator.

The meeting of the Committee of Ministers scheduled for December 2026 represents an important opportunity to reaffirm commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and human rights through concrete steps. A strong decision supporting the implementation of the right to hope would help Turkey overcome its impasse on these fundamental issues, and at the same time demonstrate international support for a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.

Abdullah Öcalan's call for peace and democratic society, announced on 27 February 2025, had profound effects in Turkey and the region in general. This call contributed to reducing violence and revived hopes for peaceful coexistence through democratic dialogue after decades of conflict. However, realizing these hopes requires fundamental changes within the country and support from the international community more than ever.

Turkey's legal systems do not meet the requirements of democracy, which is clearly evident in the continuation of restrictions imposed on Abdullah Öcalan's fundamental rights and preventing him from communicating with the outside world. Despite recent legislative developments, Abdullah Öcalan remains detained in conditions that severely restrict his fundamental rights and freedoms. While some legal reforms have been implemented, they remain insufficient to achieve real democracy and do not guarantee the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights rulings. More importantly, these systems do not address the legal status and working conditions of the chief negotiator of the peace process, at a time when this issue is considered vital for the success of any sustainable peace path.

We call on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to ensure the full implementation of the European Court of Human Rights ruling issued in 2014 in the Abdullah Öcalan case, in recognition of and realization of his right to hope. This is an indispensable first step toward settling his legal status and enabling him to contribute effectively to reaching a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. From this standpoint, the Council of Europe must adhere to its responsibility toward democracy and human rights. It faces today a historic opportunity to support one of its member states in its journey toward real democracy. We urge you to translate the Council's principles into tangible reality by adopting a clear and effective decision at your meeting scheduled for next December, ensuring the release of Abdullah Öcalan and providing the full, free, and unrestricted conditions for his effective participation in the peace process."