'Right to Hope' omitted from Turkish Parliament’s draft report
The Turkish Parliament's draft report on the resolution process excludes the "right to hope," despite repeated calls from MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli regarding PKK leader Öcalan.
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By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — A draft report by the Turkish Parliament’s National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission has reportedly omitted the controversial “right to hope” provision, signaling a potential policy gap within the ruling coalition regarding the future of the resolution process.
The 40-page document, which outlines the framework for a "Terror-free Türkiye," avoids direct mention of the legal mechanism that would allow for the eventual release of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. According to a report by Karar Newspaper, while the draft references European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) standards, the specific phrase "right to hope" was excluded following apparent reservations from the AK Party.
Details of the seven-chapter draft
The joint draft report is organized into seven chapters, with the first four focusing on the historical background of the Kurdish issue and the strategic goals of the "Terror-free Türkiye" initiative. The commission’s agreed-upon framework emphasizes legal incentives for disarming and returning home, alongside various democratization proposals.
Key recommendations within the draft include:
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Revisions to the Law on Political Parties and the Electoral Code.
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Legislative solutions for legal gaps in the appointment of trustees (kayyum).
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Legal protections for individuals and institutions serving within the commission.
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Ensuring that new regulations do not create a public perception of "impunity or amnesty."
Divergent views within the coalition
The omission reveals a discrepancy between the commission's current draft and previous statements by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). MHP Vice President Feti Yıldız had earlier claimed that a consensus was reached, stating that "the right to hope will be included in the text" as a necessity of complying with AİHM and Constitutional Court rulings.
However, sources suggest that the AK Party remains cautious, prioritizing the sensitivities of its voter base. This "Right to Hope" puzzle began on October 1, 2024, when MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli extended a hand to the DEM Party, later suggesting that Öcalan could "come and declare the end of terrorism at the TBMM" in exchange for the utilization of the right to hope.
DEM Party calls for concrete action
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan addressed the debate, arguing that maintaining Öcalan’s current conditions is inconsistent with the goals of a peace process. Speaking to the media, Bakırhan emphasized that the "right to hope" should be viewed as a natural outcome of the process rather than a person-specific law.
"To say 'let there be peace' while keeping Öcalan in the same conditions does not match the process," Bakırhan stated. "We hope that concrete steps will finally be taken to relieve the tension in Türkiye. The 'right to hope' should be seen as an arrangement that supports the hope for social peace."
Understanding the ‘Right to Hope’
In legal terms, the "right to hope" refers to the entitlement of a prisoner sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment to have their sentence reviewed after a certain period, offering a prospect of release. Under current Turkish law, those in Öcalan’s position are required to remain imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole.
The ECHR ruled in 2014 that this "no-release" policy constituted a violation of the prohibition against inhuman treatment. While the Turkish government has yet to implement the necessary legal changes, the issue remains a "Gordian knot" in the ongoing political discussions. The commission is expected to finalize the report next week before presenting it to the General Assembly.
