The Centre for Kurdish Progress was delighted to host a special and important meeting with the Co-Chair of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), Tulay Hatımoğulları Oruç, alongside Kurdish politician Baydemir Osman at Westminster Kitchen, London.
During the discussion, DEM Member Oruç provided valuable insights into the on-going peace process in Turkey and gave an overview of the broader implications for the Middle East, offering insightful perspectives on the region's path towards peace.
Tülay Hatimoğulları, co-chair of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), discussed the ongoing political process regarding the Kurdish issue in Turkey during a speech in the UK, focusing particularly on negotiations between the Turkish government and Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, who has been held on İmralı Island since 1999.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion in London organized by the Center for Kurdish Progress, Hatimoğulları emphasized that Rojava, the de facto autonomous region in northeastern Syria, is also part of the political process involving the Turkish government and Öcalan. She noted that Öcalan considers the inclusion of Rojava essential to any future resolution of the Kurdish question in the region. The event, which featured prominent Kurdish figures such as politician Osman Baydemir and representatives of the UK Kurdish community, provided an opportunity to explore the ongoing, albeit uncertain, political negotiations in Turkey.
Hatimoğulları revealed that DEM representatives had met with Öcalan twice in recent months, though no formal agreement had been reached with the Turkish government. She stated that Öcalan highlighted shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and Syria, suggesting that Turkey’s failure to resolve the Kurdish issue was increasingly isolating the country from critical global energy corridors in the region.
According to Hatimoğulları, Öcalan warned that continued political stagnation could further destabilize both Turkey and Iran unless concrete steps were taken to address Kurdish rights. She pointed to a statement by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, suggesting that Turkish officials were beginning to take Öcalan’s warnings more seriously.
The DEM leader reiterated her party's commitment to improving Öcalan's conditions, advocating for his release and transfer to a more open environment. She also revealed that DEM had held discussions with key Kurdish leaders in South Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan), including Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). These discussions would be reported back to Öcalan.
Hatimoğulları further confirmed that Öcalan is expected to release a statement by late February or March, proposing a legal and democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue. She stressed that improving Öcalan’s access to legal experts, political leaders, and civil society representatives would be essential for advancing the process. Additionally, she said that Öcalan insists on legal guarantees for those engaging in discussions with him, as well as for a broader potential peace process in Turkey.
She concluded by reaffirming that the inclusion of Rojava in the ongoing political negotiations is crucial to any lasting peace in the region. She highlighted Öcalan’s proposal for resolving the Kurdish issue and his vision for a democratic constitution for Syria as central elements of a broader resolution.
Despite ongoing discussions on an undefined peace negotiation, Hatimoğulları criticized the Turkish government’s lack of action. She accused Erdoğan’s administration of intensifying repression instead of taking steps toward a resolution. The removal of elected Kurdish mayors and the imposition of unelected government-appointed trustees in Kurdish municipalities have continued, undermining local governance. The recent seizure of Van Municipality and the sentencing of its co-mayor exemplify this trend. Hatimoğulları stressed that large-scale operations targeting Kurdish communities persist.
She argued that while Öcalan and the Kurdish movement are ready for dialogue, the government remains unresponsive. The current political climate remains uncertain, with repression overshadowing peace efforts. She urged the government to take meaningful steps toward a democratic resolution, emphasizing that resolving the Kurdish issue is crucial for Turkey’s political stability. She also underlined that Öcalan’s proposals align with broader democratic aspirations and that the unresolved conflict continues to impact Turkey’s relations with global and regional powers.
Hatimoğulları stated that Kurdish political figures remain committed to constructive engagement with the Turkish government to resolve the long-standing conflict through a reliable and peaceful process. She highlighted the importance of international awareness and solidarity in this process, reiterating that the Kurdish movement will not abandon its pursuit of justice.
She warned that the government’s refusal to engage meaningfully could deepen tensions and concluded by calling for urgent reforms and a renewed commitment to dialogue. Despite these developments, Hatimoğulları expressed frustration with the Turkish government’s lack of concrete action, urging Ankara to engage in serious dialogue with Öcalan to address the Kurdish issue. 
