ANKARA – Speaking at the parliamentary commission, former Speaker of Parliament Bülent Arınç emphasized that Kurds are seeking equal citizenship and stressed that the “Right to Hope” must be implemented without fail. 

 

The Commission on National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy convened for the 7th time. Former Speakers of Parliament – Hikmet Çetin, Ömer İzgi, Bülent Arınç, Köksal Toptan, Mehmet Ali Şahin, Cemil Çiçek, İsmet Yılmaz, İsmail Kahraman, Binali Yıldırım and Mustafa Şentop – were invited to share their views. 

 

Former Speaker Hikmet Çetin made a distinction between those who have used violence and those who have not. He argued that “it is difficult at this stage to pardon individuals who have taken up arms and killed people.” Çetin suggested that 15–20 Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) members could be sent abroad and proposed countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and South Africa. He added, “When the time comes, these individuals must know that they too may be pardoned. For now, it remains difficult.”

 

Çetin also underlined the need to work toward enabling everyone to return home in the future.

 

İZGİ OFFERS ‘DEADLOCK’ PROPOSALS

 

Ömer İzgi made statements addressing the root causes of the issue. “Anyone who commits a crime must be held accountable,” he said. He said: “If legal reforms are needed, new laws should be enacted. If constitutional amendments are required, those too must be made. There is nothing the Turkish Grand National Assembly cannot do.”

 

"However, the first three articles of the Constitution and the sixth article, which states that 'Sovereignty belongs to the nation unconditionally' cannot be changed. Although our focus is on termination and related regulations, we will also amend the Constitution if necessary."

 

İzgi also suggested that Article 66 of the Constitution, which currently states that “Everyone bound to the Turkish State through the bond of citizenship is a Turk,” could be amended. He proposed and alternative formulation: “All residents of Turkey, regardless of religion of ethnicity, are considered Turks in terms of citizenship”

 

ARINÇ: EMPTY RHETORIC WILL NOT TAKE US FORWARD

 

Bülent Arınç recalled the arrest of co-mayors and members of parliament, pointing out that Kurds desire equal citizenship. Arınç said: “We cannot move forward with hollow rhetoric. People say, ‘We are brothers, like flesh and nail.’ These are secondary truths.”

 

“We’ve reached a point where the sea has ended, and the ship has run aground,” said Arınç and added: “I thank Bahçeli for taking the initiative from a high level. The President’s determination, willpower, and this commission’s work will drive the process.”

 

He commended the efforts of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, saying, “We were most concerned about DEM, but they have been taken the lead. I appreciate their efforts. In this process, they have shown more dedication and goodwill than any of us.”

 

Arınç noted that he had proviouslu engaged in politics alongside Kurdish politicians Orhan Doğan, Selim Sadak, Hatip Dicle, and Leyla Zana. He mentioned that Selim Sadak, who was forced into exile, is currently ill and called for Sadak and other exiled politicians to be allowed to return home. 

 

He also expressed surprise at Bahçeli’s bold initial move: “Had we not started from such a high point, we wouldn’t have come this far. It needed a shocking start.”

 

Regarding political discourse, Arınç advised, “Forget the language and rhetoric of the past. We cannot reverse history. This new journey is not a conventional war fought with weapons. We must bring this process to a conclusion with new methods and fresh energy.”

 

‘THE RIGHT TO HOPE MUST BE IMPLEMENTED’

 

Commenting on constitutional reform debates, Arınç emphasized that the best constitution is one that is properly implemented. “It is wrong to disregard certain provisions of the current Constitution simply because they are inconvenient,” he said.

 

“We can amend the Constitution—after all, more than two-thirds of it has already been changed,” said Arınç and added: “But we always need a more modern, concise, and liberal constitution. However, it is not this commission’s task to draft a new one.”

 

He pointed out a critical gap in policy: “We have fought terrorism, but we have not addressed the root causes that lead to it.”

 

Arınç also made several recommendations to the commission. He emphasized the necessity of implementing rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Constitutional Court of Turkey, stating, “We cannot simply ignore the decisions of the ECtHR, whose convention we have signed. We are obliged to consider and implement those decisions. Articles 90 and 145 of the Constitution make this clear.”

 

He called for the adoption of a fair and equitable penal enforcement system, and stressed the importance of implementing the Right to Hope—a policy previously raised by Bahçeli. “We should not focus on who might benefit from it. It has been ten years since the ECtHR’s decision on this issue,” Arınç noted.

 

‘AN AMNESTY IS NECESSARY’

 

Arınç also argued that a general amnesty has become a necessity: “Given the extreme lack of trust in the judiciay, this must be seriously considered.”

 

He acknowledged the suffering of those dismissed from public service under Statutory Decrees (KHK), adding, “Some legal reforms can be made, provided they remain within the bounds of law.”

 

Arınç stressed: “Our commission must take courageous steps in the face of Turkey’s realities so that the bold process initiated by Bahçeli can be successfully concluded.”