Turkey’s Kurdish solution: “First legal step” in 100 years, says DEM Party

The spokesperson for Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party, Ayşegül Doğan, has called the new framework law a historic breakthrough, describing it as the “first legal step” in resolving the country’s century-old Kurdish issue. Speaking on the legislation, Doğan stressed that the law must be implemented without delay. She also called for the immediate release of former party leaders Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, who remain in prison. The statement marks a rare moment of cautious optimism from the opposition party, which has long criticized the government’s approach to Kurdish rights. However, Doğan warned that the law’s success depends entirely on its execution. “This is the first time in 100 years that a legal framework addresses the Kurdish question,” she said. “But words mean nothing if action does not follow.” The framework law, whose details have not been fully disclosed, is seen by many as a potential turning point in Turkey’s decades-long conflict with Kurdish militants and political movements. Doğan’s call for the release of Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ adds pressure on the government to show good faith beyond the legislative text. Both figures have been held since 2016 on charges widely condemned by human rights groups. Whether this legal step will lead to a broader political settlement remains uncertain. For now, all eyes are on how quickly—and how fairly—the law is put into practice.