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A parliamentary committee met on Friday to discuss whether a delegation should be formed to visit imprisoned PKK terrorist group ringleader Abdullah Ocalan on Imrali Island, considered the next step in the government's "terror-free Türkiye" initiative.
After the voting in the parliamentary committee, the majority decided that a small delegation consisting of Turkish MPs would pay a visit to imprisoned PKK ringleader Ocalan to discuss Türkiye's ongoing peace process. The vote resulted in 32 in favor, three abstentions and two against.
The debate has intensified in the two weeks since Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli renewed his call on Nov. 4 for the committee to take action. On Nov. 18, Bahceli criticized the lack of progress and stated, "If no one goes, I will take three colleagues and go myself."
Following his remarks, the committee announced it would convene on Friday to decide whether to authorize an official visit.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on Wednesday, urged all parties to act "responsibly and constructively" and said he believed the committee would take the "most accurate and beneficial decision" for Türkiye's unity and security.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Parliamentary Group Chair Abdullah Guler signalled support for the visit, saying the ruling party views an Imrali meeting as a positive step and as evidence of Türkiye's determination to resolve its terrorism problem at the root.
Ahead of the meeting, MHP Deputy Chair Feti Yildiz told reporters he would represent his party in a potential delegation visiting the Imrali island.
The CHP, however, announced it would not participate.
CHP Deputy Group Chair Murat Emir said the party did not consider it appropriate to send a member to such a visit: "We do not find it appropriate that a meeting to discuss a possible visit to Imrali is held behind closed doors and kept from the public. Each political party should clearly present its position, and the nation should be able to observe this process."
The committee consists of 51 lawmakers, including 22 from the AK Party, 11 from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), five from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, four from the MHP, and eight from other parties.
In October 2024, Bahceli publicly called for renewed dialogue with Ocalan. Following these calls, Ocalan issued a message in February urging the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. A parliamentary commission was subsequently formed in August.
Reiterating his position earlier this month, Bahceli urged the commission to hold talks directly on Imrali Island.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus also commented on the debate, stating that such a meeting could be held “if Parliament and political parties reach a consensus within the legal framework.”
PKK's withdrawal announcement in October 2025 culminated eight months of concrete steps taken by the PKK since Ocalan issued his call on Feb. 27. The group declared a ceasefire on March 1 to establish what it described as "a calm and comfortable discussion environment."
Between May 5 and 7, the PKK held its 12th Congress, during which it formally decided to dissolve its organisational structure and abandon its "armed struggle strategy."
On July 11, a group of 30 PKK members—including 15 women—surrendered in Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah province and destroyed their weapons by throwing them into a burning cauldron.
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