First Family Visit in Over Three Years
Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999, received a family visit for the first time in 43 months on October 23, 2024. His nephew, Omer Ocalan, a deputy for the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), confirmed the visit took place after a long hiatus, stating, "Our last face-to-face meeting with Abdullah Ocalan was on March 3, 2020." He emphasized the importance of routine family visits, which are a legal right, and noted that Ocalan's lawyers have not been permitted to see him since August 2019.
Ocalan's Legacy and Legal Battles
Abdullah Ocalan was arrested in February 1999 after being convicted of leading an armed rebellion against the Turkish state. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Ocalan has been a pivotal figure in Kurdish politics and has previously called for an end to hostilities with the Turkish state in 2014 and 2015, seeking a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Kurdish issue. His imprisonment has been a point of contention in Turkish-Kurdish relations and continues to draw significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Recent Violence and Government Response
The timing of Ocalan's family visit coincides with a tragic shooting incident on October 22, 2024, targeting the Turkish Aerospace Industries Company near Ankara, which left five people dead and 22 injured. The Turkish government has attributed the attack to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ocalan founded and is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies. In the aftermath of the shooting, the Turkish military conducted airstrikes on PKK positions in Iraq and Syria, escalating tensions in the region.
