Two pro-Kurdish lawmakers, Sirri Sureyya Onder and Pervin Buldan, visited Turkey’s Imrali prison on Saturday for a rare meeting with Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The visit comes after the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) officially requested permission in November. The delegation's arrival was confirmed by Aysegul Dogan, DEM Party spokesperson, though details about the visit remain scarce.

“We do not have information on where else they went, when the meeting started, how long it will last, what will be discussed, or whether there will be a statement upon their return,” read a DEM Party statement. “The trip is entirely under the initiative of the authorities.”

Ocalan's Isolation and Limited Contact

Abdullah Ocalan has been held in the high-security island prison of Imrali since 1999 and has had limited contact with the outside world. This meeting marks another rare exception, following his nephew Omer Ocalan’s visit in late October, the first face-to-face family interaction since March 2020.

During that meeting, Ocalan was reported to be in "good health" and conveyed greetings to his supporters. Prior to this, the PKK leader’s only recent contact was a brief phone call with his elder brother Mehmet Ocalan in March 2021. Multiple requests for further communication have been denied over the years.

Shift in Government Stance

The Turkish government appears to have softened its hardline approach to Ocalan’s isolation following remarks by Devlet Bahceli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Bahceli, an ally of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), suggested that Ocalan address the Turkish parliament and announce the dissolution of the PKK.

Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdish state but now advocates for autonomy. Turkey designates the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Connection to Past Peace Talks

Onder and Buldan were both involved in the 2014 peace process between Ankara and the PKK, a brief period of negotiations aimed at resolving decades of conflict. The process ultimately collapsed, leading to a resurgence in hostilities.

The DEM Party, formerly known as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), played a pivotal role in facilitating those earlier peace talks.

Uncertain Outcomes

It remains unclear whether the latest meeting signals a potential shift in Turkey’s Kurdish policy or a renewed effort to revive peace talks. Analysts will be closely watching for any statements or developments following the delegation’s visit.

The visit underscores the ongoing complexities of Turkey's Kurdish question, as the country navigates tensions between its security policies and calls for dialogue from Kurdish political representatives.