While no legislative arrangement has been made for 12 years regarding the European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) ruling of "violation" concerning the imposition of an aggravated life sentence without the possibility of conditional release on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, all eyes are on the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. 

 

The Committee of Ministers, which has supervisory authority over whether ECHR rulings are implemented, did not place the violation ruling — also known as the "right to hope" — on its agenda at its June meeting. While it is stated that the Committee will not place the matter on its agenda at its September meeting either, it is unknown whether it will be placed on the agenda at the 2027 meeting.

 

Meral Danış Beştaş, Co-Spokesperson of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) and also a lawyer, assessed the failure to make any arrangements for 12 years and the Committee of Ministers' stance on this matter.

 

'THE COMMITTEE MUST MONITOR THE RULING'

 

Meral Danış Beştaş said that despite Turkey being a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, it is showing resistance to fulfilling the obligations of the convention. Drawing attention to the fact that for political reasons Turkey is not acting in accordance with ECHR rulings in some cases, Meral Danış Beştaş said that one of these is the ECHR ruling concerning Abdullah Öcalan's "right to hope." Stating that despite the time granted to Turkey by the Committee, no steps have yet been taken, she said a stage has been reached where the application of sanctions will now be necessary.

 

Criticizing the Committee's failure to place the matter on its agenda at the last meeting, Meral Danış Beştaş said: "The Committee of Ministers must absolutely follow this up. It needs to be monitored for implementation and political pressure also needs to be applied," adding that due to international relations being shaped by political interests, a positive approach toward Turkey exists.

 

Stating that the "right to hope" is "a mandatory ruling" in law, Meral Danış Beştaş emphasized that it is not only Abdullah Öcalan's but many prisoners' "right to hope" that has been violated, and said that this ruling needs to be enshrined in law.

 

‘STATUS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS'

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan is both the leader of a people and one of the key political actors for peace, Meral Danış Beştaş criticized the language used in mainstream media regarding Abdullah Öcalan and said: "On the one hand, a partner of the People's Alliance says 'let him be the political coordinator of this process,' while on the other hand channels and media outlets continue to use polarizing and othering language. A degree of sincerity is required. The legal recognition of Mr. Öcalan's status and its enshrining in legislation is absolutely essential for the integrity of this process. The contrary is inconceivable."

 

MA / Melik Varol