The National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission, which was established in Parliament as part of the Peace and Democratic Society Process, will hold its first meeting this week today at 14.00. The commission will listen to the relatives of those who lost their lives during the conflict processes.
A person set his white "Toros" car on fire in front of the Parliament garden in Ankara, near Çankaya Gate. The person shouted "I want God's justice" several times.
Journalist Nihat Kaya criticized Turkey’s effort to influence Syria through HTS, stating, “Turkey needs to overcome from Kurdish phobia, otherwise it will be completely pushed out of Syrian politics.”
Ahmet Tutulmaz, Chair of the Îdir (Iğdır) Bar Association, stressed that the Parliamentary commission should not be a mere formality and emphasized the need for legal regulations.
Ferzende Deniz, spokesperson for the İzmir Platform of Religious Scholars, stated that any meaningful solution to the century-old Kurdish issue requires dialogue with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. “For a real solution, the commission must meet with Mr. Öcalan,” Deniz said.
Prisoner Gülten Akgül, who completed 30 years of her sentence, but whose release was posponed twice for 6 months each, was released from Izmir Şakran Women's Closed Prison after 31 years.
The parliamentary commission established to resolve the Kurdish issue will listen to representatives of foundations, NGOs, Saturday Mothers and Peace Mothers on 19-20 August.
Journalist Faruk Eren criticized the media’s role in the Kurdish peace process, stating, “A language that constantly provokes the process is being used. This language needs to change.”
Tens of thousands of people attended the concert organised by Gever (Yüksekova) Municipality in Colemêrg (Hakkari). "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)" slogan was frequently chanted during the concert.
Mexmûr (Makhmur) residents expressed excitement after receiving a message from Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish People’s Leader, stating, "After the leader’s message, we have revived like a withered flower."
Stephen Smellie, a member of the National Executive Council of UNISON, one of the largest public sector unions in the UK, stated that Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom is of "critical" importance for the process.
Philosopher and cultural critic Santiago Zabala drew attention to the fact that Kurdish-Turkish relations have been targeted by capitalist modernity, stating, “Öcalan’s efforts must not be in vain.”
Lezgin Dayangaç, the father of Mehmet Dayangaç, who is being held in Sincan L-Type Prison No 2, stated that his son is constantly subjected to pressure and violence and called on the authorities to investigate the prison.
Journalist Mumtazer Turkone said that the fundamental solution to the Kurdish issue lies in equal citizenship and added: "Abdullah Öcalan is drawing a realistic road map. These realistic approaches have a response from the state wing represented by Devlet Bahçeli."
Peace Academic Muzaffer Kaya has called for a democratic mobilization in support of the new parliamentary peace process in Turkey. Speaking on the work of the recently established commission, Kaya emphasized that the process must be pushed forward collectively by all democratic forces.