Turkish Parliamentary Commission to Visit Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı

In a development described as a “historic vote,” a parliamentary commission in Turkey has officially decided to send a delegation to İmralı Island to meet with Abdullah Öcalan. The decision marks a significant turning point in the country’s political agenda, signaling a potential shift in the state’s approach to the imprisoned PKK leader.

The commission’s meeting was fraught with procedural tension. The motion to visit the high-security prison passed with an unusual coalition of support, bringing together the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), alongside the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and smaller left-wing parties EMEP and TİP.

DEM Party Praises Decision, Criticizes CHP

Following the vote, DEM Party Co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan released a joint statement expressing their approval. They explicitly thanked the AKP, MHP, EMEP, and TİP for their support in authorizing the visit.

However, the statement also highlighted a deepening rift within the opposition bloc. Without naming the party directly, the co-chairs signaled their disappointment with the main opposition, stating, “We greeted the approaches of some political circles with sadness.” This was a clear reference to the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which refused to support the initiative.

CHP Refuses Participation: “Our Nation Does Not Consent”

The CHP formally announced that it would not assign any members to the delegation traveling to İmralı. The party raised procedural objections, arguing that it was inappropriate for the commission to hold its planning meeting behind closed doors.

In a sharp rebuttal to the commission’s decision, the CHP statement declared, “Politics is not done by fait accompli.” The party argued that a physical visit by parliamentarians lacks public legitimacy, asserting, “Our nation does not consent to this.”

Instead of a physical delegation, the CHP offered an alternative proposal. It suggested that if the commission required Öcalan’s testimony or views, this should be obtained via “technological means,” such as video conferencing. The party argued this method would be sufficient for gathering information without crossing the sensitive political line of sending a formal parliamentary delegation to the island.