A seven-member delegation from Turkey’s Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) departed for Imrali Island on Thursday to meet with Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The visit comes amid renewed discussions about reviving the peace process in Turkey.

The delegation, led by DEM Party co-chairs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan, includes Members of Parliament Tülay Hatimoğulları, Tuncer Bakırhan, and Ahmet Türk, along with Cengiz Çiçek and Fayq Özgür Erol. The group is expected to hold a press conference in Istanbul upon their return to share details of their meeting with Ocalan. Contrary to earlier speculation, Ocalan’s message will not be released via video.

This visit follows the DEM Party’s recent meetings with senior Kurdish officials in the Kurdistan Region, part of broader efforts to reignite the peace process in Turkey. On Wednesday, the party formally requested permission from Turkey’s Justice Ministry for a third visit to Ocalan, after two meetings in December 2024. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç had previously stated on February 19 that the delegation would be allowed another visit but noted that no official request had been made at the time.

The developments come in the wake of an unexpected statement in October from Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), suggesting that Ocalan could renounce violence in exchange for a possible early release. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later described the situation as a “historic window of opportunity” for peace.

The DEM Party’s visit to Imrali underscores ongoing efforts to address the Kurdish issue and explore potential pathways to reconciliation. The outcome of the meeting and the subsequent press conference are anticipated to provide further clarity on the future of the peace process in Turkey.