Justice minister rejects DEM Party co-chair’s comments on terror-free Türkiye

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has firmly rejected comments made by Tulay Hatimogullari, the People’s Equality and Democracy Party’s (DEM Party) co-chair, regarding Türkiye’s efforts toward a “terror-free” future, calling her remarks damaging and inappropriate.

Hatimogullari had stated that “the ball is now in the government’s court” when referring to steps such as improving the communication and living conditions of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed ringleader of the PKK terrorist organization. The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union.

Statements that harm the process of building a terror-free Türkiye should not be made. We are not playing games here. We have never entered into any negotiations. This is a serious issue concerning the elimination of terrorism. There is no give-and-take. This is not a game — it’s a matter of national security.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc

Rejecting any notion of political bargaining, Tunc emphasized that all actions would be taken strictly within the bounds of the law.

“What does it mean to say ‘the ball is in the government’s court’? We are not playing ball here. This is a serious matter,” he added.