ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has been granted permission by authorities to meet with the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) soon, reported pro-government media on Thursday.
Sabah news outlet said in an article that two lawmakers affiliated with the DEM Party are expected to visit Ocalan on Imrali Island, where he has been imprisoned since 1999.
The visit could take place in the coming two days, added the pro-government outlet.
However, Aysegul Dogan, DEM Party spokeswoman, told Rudaw that they have not been informed about such a permission.
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the government ally of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in October proposed that Ocalan address the Turkish parliament and announce the dissolution of the group. In November, he doubled down on his proposal.
The DEM Party in November submitted a request to the Turkish justice ministry to allow them to meet with Ocalan. Sabah reported that the ministry has approved the application.
The Turkish Justice Ministry has yet to announce the result of the application.
Bahceli’s proposal was met with mixed reactions, with strong rejections from the country’s ultranationalist politicians. He has also called on the DEM Party to distance itself from the PKK.
The DEM Party is routinely accused of being the political wing of the PKK - designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey.
Sabah news outlet said in an article that two lawmakers affiliated with the DEM Party are expected to visit Ocalan on Imrali Island, where he has been imprisoned since 1999.
The visit could take place in the coming two days, added the pro-government outlet.
However, Aysegul Dogan, DEM Party spokeswoman, told Rudaw that they have not been informed about such a permission.
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the government ally of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in October proposed that Ocalan address the Turkish parliament and announce the dissolution of the group. In November, he doubled down on his proposal.
The DEM Party in November submitted a request to the Turkish justice ministry to allow them to meet with Ocalan. Sabah reported that the ministry has approved the application.
The Turkish Justice Ministry has yet to announce the result of the application.
Bahceli’s proposal was met with mixed reactions, with strong rejections from the country’s ultranationalist politicians. He has also called on the DEM Party to distance itself from the PKK.
The DEM Party is routinely accused of being the political wing of the PKK - designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey.
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