Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) MP Ömer Öcalan spoke to Yeni Özgür Politika about his recent meeting with Abdullah Öcalan.

Ömer Öcalan began by conveying Abdullah Öcalan’s greetings to the people, saying that he always asks for his greetings to be shared wherever one goes and emphasized that the meeting was a family visit rather than a political or legal delegation. He stressed that this should be understood as a basic right afforded to every prisoner and that such family visits should take place regularly. He also underlined that these visits must not be obstructed due to political motives.

Ömer Öcalan said: "This was a family visit that took place on 31 March, the second day of the Eid holiday.” He spoke about the 4 April birthday of Abdullah Öcalan and added: “The Kurdish people do not see 4 April merely as the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan. They see it as their own birthday. Time and again, people have celebrated this day here. They have declared their will. Tens of thousands of people from the cities of Kurdistan and those of Turkey have come here to visit. People do not treat this as a typical birthday. It is a declaration of will. It is a commitment to a thought, to an idea. That is how we understand it."

A memory with Cemil Bayık

Ömer Öcalan shared a meaningful memory that was recalled during the last family visit with Abdullah Öcalan in Imralı. He explained that his father, Mehmet Öcalan, recounted an experience from nearly 50 years ago, which Abdullah Öcalan also remembered and joined in recalling. He stated that sharing this memory on 4 April carried deep meaning and significance. According to the account, in the years 1976–1977, Mehmet Öcalan told Abdullah Öcalan: "You and Cemil Bayık once came to our house. My mother cooked a meal for you. While you were eating, my father entered the room, leaned in through the door and said, ‘My son, you used to speak of the struggle for communism and socialism. Now you say you are following a path for Kurdishness and Kurdistan. The struggle for communism is lighter. The struggle for Kurdishness and Kurdistan is heavier. This path will wear you down.’" At that moment, Abdullah Öcalan confirmed the memory and added: "Your father also told us, ‘You have entered the Kurdish cause. Sheikh Said also walked this path and paid a great price. He had a tribe, a family, a community. You have no one, not even a tribe. You will face many hardships.’"

After recalling the conversation, Ömer Öcalan reflected on the transformation that has since taken place. He said that the movement, which began with six people who came from villages and cities across Kurdistan, has now grown into a reality embraced by millions. He described this journey as the rebirth of a nation and stated that the Kurdish people now see themselves in Abdullah Öcalan.

He emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan, who is now 76 years old, dedicated his life to resistance and struggle. Coming from a poor family, he built a movement that spread across all four parts of Kurdistan and gained influence throughout the Middle East. He noted that this influence became visible once again in the 27 February declaration, when institutions such as the United Nations (UN), the United States (US), European countries, Russia, and China made positive statements regarding the process. He concluded by saying that what began from a place of complete isolation and abandonment has now become the emergence of a people. He stated that those who once had no one have become millions and this movement now offers both a perspective and a model for the entire Middle East.

My greatest wish was to see Öcalan

This was Ömer Öcalan’s second face-to-face meeting with his uncle, Abdullah Öcalan. When asked how he felt, he explained: "I went for the first meeting on 23 October. It was the first time I would be seeing Mr. Öcalan. In my life, in politics and in social struggles, this was one of the deepest voids I had felt. Seeing Mr. Öcalan was one of my greatest aspirations. That absence, at least to some extent, has now been filled. On 23 October 2024, I saw Mr. Öcalan in person for the first time. We have already shared many of the details of that meeting in other settings. The figure of an uncle is, of course, significant. But we do not relate to him as a traditional uncle figure. After all, you are bound by family to a leader who has influenced the world, shaped his surroundings, and possesses immense power and profound qualities—but you have never once seen him in your life. The spiritual weight of that reality is immense."

There must be regular family visits

When asked whether Abdullah Öcalan has access to information about current developments, Ömer Öcalan stated that Mr. Öcalan follows certain Turkish television channels to the extent permitted by his limited conditions. He interprets and evaluates some developments through those broadcasts. He explained that their visit lasted around one and a half hours and was a family visit. However, despite being a family meeting, many important topics were discussed. He said: "Because you are speaking with Mr. Öcalan. Family visits are important. We want the legal rights of family contact to be protected. According to the laws, regulations, constitution, and penal enforcement codes of Turkey, whatever is granted to other prisoners must also apply to Mr. Öcalan, as well as to Hamili Yıldırım, Veysi Aktaş, and Ömer Hayri Konar, who are held alongside him." He emphasized that lawyers have long been denied access and that no legal visit has taken place in years. He said: "At the very least, we believe that family visits during religious holidays, as well as the standard fortnightly visits provided under Turkish law, should be conducted regularly and without interruption."

The Imralı table is still standing

Ömer Öcalan was asked about the political assessment of Abdullah Öcalan. In response, he shared the following: "Mr. Öcalan’s paradigm and intellectual system offer a perspective capable of guiding the next century. Everyone should learn to approach reality through this framework. Unfortunately, in both the Middle East and Turkey, politics continues to operate through opposition. Ethnic and religious divisions are reinforced, and people are categorized based on their identity and beliefs. Mr. Öcalan leaves behind such narrow approaches. He offers a new global order, a new model of governance. His thinking addresses fundamental questions: How can Alawites and Sunnis live together? How can Syriacs live with Armenians? How can Armenians live with Muslims? How can Kurds live with Turks? How can Arabs and Persians coexist with dignity and mutual respect? He presents a paradigm for this. Building a system where all these differences and cultural riches coexist peacefully requires ability, insight, talent, and vision. Mr. Öcalan has formulated this model in detail. The state, the ruling powers, and all authorities should approach these ideas with seriousness. It is vital to focus on producing solutions, building peace, and cultivating relationships. What we witnessed during the visit confirmed that the political table in Imralı is still standing. Mr. Öcalan is in a position to demonstrate firmness when necessary and flexibility when appropriate. He does everything in his power to maintain the delicate balance of the process. He continues to analyze the realities of the Middle East in depth. Developments in Syria, Iraq, and Iran are all being followed closely and in detail."

He spoke about his childhood friends

Ömer Öcalan shared that Abdullah Öcalan spoke about the nearby villages and his childhood friends, mentioning several of them by name and sending special greetings to some. "Mr. Öcalan is a leader who attaches great importance to spiritual connection," he said. "He recalled friends from both his school days and from the village. He sent his greetings to many of them. Cibin village, where Mr. Öcalan completed his five years of primary school, is a Turkmen village. He spoke about that village as well. There are seven or eight of his friends from that village who lost their lives in clashes in rural areas. He mentioned them, and he also spoke about their families. He talked about the Sarıçicek, Kumbag, and Atmaca families. He spoke of Erah, which is the neighboring village to ours, as well as Aram, Hilvan, and Mardin. He shared these memories with us, and he had specific greetings for some people. We have conveyed those greetings to the individuals they were intended for."

A message to democratic politics

Ömer Öcalan emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan also delivered important messages to democratic political actors. He described Mr. Öcalan as someone with both strong emotional depth and a sharp analytical mind who remains fully engaged with the current political agenda. He stated that the state apparatus must approach this process with the seriousness it deserves. “It is easy to destroy or damage,” he said, “but building something meaningful is difficult.” He quoted Abdullah Öcalan as saying: "To be a socialist means to embrace social life. And to embrace social life means to walk and work with people. This must be built. Politics leaves no room for emptiness. Ömer Öcalan added: “I hope that, in the time ahead, we will witness the construction of a peace that this region has long yearned for. I hope we can build a life together—a democratic society, a democratic way of living. This is a difficult and demanding path. It may take a long time. But we will contribute to it as much as our strength allows."

People are right to have doubts

Ömer Öcalan noted that Abdullah Öcalan also addressed the public’s doubts regarding the current process. He said: "We conveyed to him that the Kurdish people’s belief in him is absolutely clear. There is no issue with that. But there are doubts, and these doubts are not about him. These doubts come from the experiences of the people—what happened during the 2015 resolution process, the events of 2009, and even back in 1993. People have developed a deep mistrust toward the state and the government because of these historical moments. In response, Mr. Öcalan said: ‘The people are right. They are thinking correctly. That is the reality. But I am holding on to my hope. I will do everything I can to keep this process going.’"

Build political organization

Ömer Öcalan concluded by underlining Abdullah Öcalan’s strong emphasis on organization. He stated: "President Öcalan said, ‘Wherever I go, I organize. I have been organizing since I was a child. As a boy, I had a prayer group. When I went to school, I had a group of friends.’ He expressed how deeply he values being organized. He said that in every place he has ever been, he built a circle around him, worked with them, organized them, and was himself part of the organization."