Sulaymaniyah-In Sulaymaniyah, participants in a seminar discussed the future of the peace process in Turkey, emphasizing its strategic importance for the region and the world, and the need for a legal environment enabling Abdullah Öcalan to play a central role.

The seminar, titled “Where Is the Peace Process in Turkey Heading After One Year?”, brought together around 120 activists, journalists, politicians, and national figures to review recent developments, propose next steps for the Turkish state and the Freedom Movement, and evaluate the progress of the peace process over the past year.

The first session included Nuruz Oysal, former lawyer of Abdullah Öcalan and parliament member from the Peace and Democracy Party representing Şırnak; Öcalan’s legal representative Mazlum Deng; CPT member Kamiran Osman; and political analyst Jaafar Ali.

Regarding political steps for peace, Nuruz Oysal stated, “The call for peace continues to resonate across the Middle East and gained wider attention following Öcalan’s historic appeal, shaping the region’s political landscape.” She emphasized that Turkey must take serious steps to advance peace, noting, “This process is not only for the Kurds; it holds strategic significance for the entire Middle East and the world.”

Mazlum Deng highlighted that a successful peace process requires a proper legal framework, citing South Africa’s experience with Nelson Mandela’s release. He stressed that improving Öcalan’s legal situation is essential for enabling him to actively contribute to peace, creating broader opportunities in the Middle East and globally. He added, “Continuing restrictions only benefit those obstructing Kurdish interests and preventing just, sustainable solutions.”

Over 27 years of imprisonment, Öcalan has relentlessly worked for peace and democratic society, overcoming strict confinement, limited to one hour of newspaper reading per day and contact with only personal guards. Despite repeated solitary confinement sentences, he continued producing political and intellectual statements that influenced both domestic and international audiences, earning him global recognition as a symbol of political struggle.

The second session, moderated by journalist and politician Hiwa Said Selim, included university professor Talar Ali, academic researcher Salam Abdul Karim, and Mohamed Alaa, representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Kurdistan.

The future of the peace process in Turkey depends on the parties’ ability to overcome narrow calculations and acknowledge that the Kurdish issue is not merely a domestic matter, but a regional equation requiring political courage, strategic vision, and genuine responsiveness to people’s demands for freedom and dignity.