DIREN RAHIM

Sulayimaniyah-Amid the escalating complexities in the Middle East, ongoing wars and conflicts and the conflicting interests of major and regional powers, the peace and democratic society initiative in North Kurdistan and Turkey emerges as one of the most prominent paths seeking to break the cycle of violence and establish stability.

Amid these transformations, leader Abdullah Öcalan, from inside prison, is leading a political and societal path described as one of the region's largest peace projects, laying new foundations for dialogue and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.

The ceasefire, along with the push toward enacting a framework law in the             Turkish parliament, is the fruit of a long path of political and intellectual efforts led by leader Öcalan. Commenting on this, political activist Sara Raza from Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region said that the framework law consists of 12 articles, but it has drawn much criticism from the freedom movement,intellectuals, and figures, as the 12 articles did not include any provision related to the Kurdish people and their rights.

Nevertheless, she believes that the discussion within the Turkish parliament, for the first time, about the Kurdish issue and Kurdish rights represents "a major shift in Turkey's history," because the Turkish state "was at a stage where it did not even recognize the existence of Kurds."

She explained that what is being fought for today represents "a new shift and an important step in political and legal struggle," and that the Turkish state previously "did not conduct its negotiations within parliament," and during negotiation periods it always "insisted on war." Therefore, this time the situation is different.

The framework law consists of four committees: the Disarmament and Strategy Committee, the Rights and Justice Committee, the Multi-Stakeholder Society Committee, and the Recognition and Coexistence Committee. However, these committees have not yet been practically implemented.

"Constitutional Rights for the Kurdish People Must Be Recognized"

Sara Raza believes that "if we want to resolve the issue through this law, another law must be submitted to the Turkish parliament, because this law does not solve all the problems of Kurds. Therefore, the Turkish state must prepare another law, and the new law should include the rights of the Kurdish people."

She noted that the current law focused only on laying down arms, asking: "Are there guarantees and rights that allow those who lay down their arms to know what their constitutional and legal rights are?" She pointed out that laws must include the right to hope, and that leader Öcalan and political prisoners must be released.

As she explains, it is not possible for someone to be a party to negotiations while at the same time being in prison, instead of being negotiated with and sitting at the dialogue table. Therefore, "leader Öcalan must be released, and constitutional, legal, and rights-based recognition must be granted within the Turkish parliament."

Sara Raza believes that problems cannot be solved through the framework law alone, saying that if Devlet Bahçeli states outside the law and its articles that "hope should be given to Öcalan and he should be released," then this must be proven practically. "Leader Öcalan's freedom is the fundamental point in this process and the most important step in it."

Sara Raza concluded her remarks by affirming that the beginning of this process was launched with the historic call made by leader Öcalan, and that the process will reach the shore of peace with his release. "The release of leader Öcalan is the demand of the entire Kurdish people."