DEMIRTAŞ'S FREEDOM WOULD INCREASE CREDIBILITY OF THE PROCESS
DEM Party MP Cengiz Çandar said that despite public support for the ongoing peace process in Turkey being at 70 %, the trust rate is lower due to a lack of information.
Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
DEM Party MP Cengiz Çandar said that despite public support for the ongoing peace process in Turkey being at 70 %, the trust rate is lower due to a lack of information.
The 11th session of Turkey’s parliamentary commission on the Kurdish peace process saw its first major confrontation, as comments from an Islamist group sparked a dramatic walkout by members of the DEM Party.
The 11th session of Turkey’s parliamentary commission on the Kurdish peace process saw its first major confrontation, as comments made by a representative of the İslami Tebliğ Tedris İlim Hareketi Adamları Association (İTTİHAD) prompted a dramatic walkout by members of the DEM Party. The controversy began when Mehmet Beşir Şimşek, a senior figure in İTTİHAD, addressed the commission on Sept. 18. The group is widely known for its ideological ties to Turkish Hizbullah, which was linked to a series of extrajudicial killings in the 1990s, many involving victims bound and executed using the notorious “pig-tie” method.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that whoever tries to sabotage the Terror-Free Turkey process will face the consequences. Erdoğan emphasized that recent events have shown that Turkey has been most affected by the unrest in Syria.
The Caucasus is undergoing a fundamental transformation that could reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape. After decades of failed attempts—such as the 2001 peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan or the 2009 Armenia–Turkey Zurich Protocols—Armenia and Azerbaijan have now initialed agreements that could pave the way for a historic breakthrough.
Ahead of renewed hopes for a peace process, Sözcü — known for its opposition stance — has stirred controversy with successive headlines alleging the mass release of PKK-linked prisoners. The Justice Ministry has twice rejected the newspaper’s reports, which first claimed 200 prisoners had been released and later suggested an additional 700 would follow.
The PKK is expected to lay down arms this week in a symbol that will be one of the most significant steps of the peace process dubbed “Terror-free Turkey.” Iraqi Kurdish media outlet Rudaw reported on June 30 that the group would hand over weapons as a 'gesture of goodwill.”