ISTANBUL – Zübeyde Zümrüt, Co-Chair of KCDK-E, stated that they will increase pressure on the Committee of Ministers, which has failed to place the “right to hope” on its agenda through actions and events, saying: “Recognition of the Right to Hope will also ensure the healthy progress of the Peace and Democratic Society Process.”

 

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will hold its mid-year meeting in Strasbourg on June 9-11, 2026. While one of the agenda items is Turkey’s relations with the Council of Europe, the list published regarding the meeting’s agenda indicated that the “right to hope,” which has drawn particular attention from national and international public opinion, will not be discussed.

 

At its meeting held on September 15-17, 2024, the Committee of Ministers had granted Turkey one year to implement the “right to hope” concerning Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and political prisoners Hayati Kaytan, Emin Gurban and Civan Boltan. However, despite Turkey taking no steps during this period, the Committee remained silent and has also removed the “right to hope” from the agenda of its upcoming meeting.

 

Kurds living in Europe and their friends have decided to take action in response to both the failure to implement the “right to hope” and the Committee’s stance. Within this framework, a series of actions and events are being planned in many cities, culminating in a large rally to be held in Strasbourg, France, on June 10.

 

 

We spoke with Zübeyde Zümrüt, Co-Chair of the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E), about the “right to hope” and the upcoming rally.

 

Stating that the Peace and Democratic Society Process is a “historic process” for both Turkey and the Middle East, Zübeyde Zümrüt said that the government is proceeding slowly and that the people remain distrustful of the authorities. She noted that the situation could change if legal steps are taken and stressed that parliament should act before going into recess.

 

Recalling the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) ruling on the “right to hope” concerning Abdullah Öcalan, Zübeyde Zümrüt said that Kurds have created significant pressure on the Council of Europe.

 

Zübeyde Zümrüt stated: “Recognition of the Right to Hope will also ensure the healthy progress of the Peace and Democratic Society Process. The physical freedom and status of Öcalan, the Leader of a people, must be recognized. Recognition of the Leader’s status will mean recognition of the status of the Kurds. European countries need to assume greater responsibility in practice. Statements of support are important, but they are not sufficient on their own.”

 

Stating that, as KCDK-E, they have been carrying out intensive work to ensure that the “right to hope” and the Kurdish question are placed on the agenda ahead of the Committee of Ministers meeting, which will be attended by 46 member states, Zübeyde Zümrüt said that actions and events will begin with a rally on June 10, immediately after the meeting of Committee member states starts on June 9.

 

MA / Helin Ozgun