Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" conveyed by the İmralı delegation continues to be discussed. Sêrt (Siirt) Bar Association Chair Muhammed Alptekin evaluated the call and the process that developed afterwards, emphasizing that the call is a call supported by all those who hope for peace and struggle for the construction of democratic grounds and law. Alptekin said, "Because something very sacred like peace was mentioned. And for the first time, a process that is so radical and paves the way for politics, where problems can be resolved on the basis of law, has been mentioned. In that respect, I find it very sacred. We, as bar associations, have also made a statement saying 'We support it, we are ready to do our part if there is a situation'." 

 

Stating that a very sensitive process is going on, Alptekin pointed out that each segment may have difficulties in getting its audience to accept certain points and said, “There are demands, there are deficiencies that need to be addressed. The delegation was in contact with everyone after the meeting. In fact, the infrastructure for these was matured. There was a call from the organization. Now a step will be taken by the state or the government. With a zipper system, in other words, it will go both ways. But of course this will not happen in a day, a week, a month, maybe it will take years. At that point, everyone needs to be sensitive. I believe that everyone should be a little more discreet about the sentences spoken, the steps taken and the relations established." 

 

'THE PROCESS MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN HARMONY'

 

Alptekin drew attention to the unlawfulness, trustees appointed, judicial harassment, assimilation policies on the mother tongue and asked “What will be lost without this process?” and pointed out that nobody should not be insecure and anxious in this sense. "Are political trials going on right now? Yes. Is the trustee policy being implemented? Yes. Are ill prisoners inside? Yes. Is there judicial harassment? Yes. Is the policy of language assimilation being furthered or banned in certain areas?  Yes. These are already being done. At the end of the day, the answer to this question is very valuable; let's say it doesn't happen, what will we lose? Will we lose municipalities, will there be political bans, will there be a compromise on the prosecution of ill convicts or political prisoners? There is actually no answer to this question. So this is a process that we need to support and be comfortable with. The society is waiting and asking more about what happened and what is going on. So I think there is no need to worry too much. We are talking about something very sacred, peace. It is necessary to be a little patient," he said. 

 

Stating that execution and legal regulations are essential in the future, Alptekin said, "The message already says, 'A process to be determined by democratic politics and a legal basis.' That is actually the legal basis part. Legal regulations, execution regulations, a process regarding political trials under the roof of the Parliament... We remember the 2015 process very well. We also remember the decisions of the Supreme Court of Appeals and higher courts when there was a process at that time. Be sure that when there is a process or peace is discussed, there will be arrangements in the judiciary."

  

Pointing out that politicians are the most important actors in the progress of the process, Alptekin added, "But the most crucial part of the process is the law. Because now we have come to such a process that trustee policy is implemented by law, ill prisoners are not released by law, political trials are carried out by law. Therefore, I believe that there must be a support where lawyers will be brought to the forefront, those legal grounds will be discussed very well. This process should be carried forward in harmony with lawyers and bar associations, not with politicians alone. That's why we have already said that if we have a part to play, we are ready.”

 

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