Turkey: Investigation launched into Kurdish deputy's Ocalan and Kurdistan remarks

A criminal investigation was launched on Friday in Turkey into the remarks of Kurdish deputy Omer Ocalan, who said in a gathering, "Our struggle will continue till Mr. Ocalan and Kurdistan are free."

Omer Ocalan, Urfa deputy for the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party and the nephew of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said in the gathering:

"We are struggling for the release of Abdullah Ocalan. Our struggle will continue till Mr. Ocalan and Kurdistan are free."

The Chief Prosecutor's Office said in a statement that an investigation was launched into the deputy's remarks over alleged violation of the anti-terrorism legislation.

PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has been incarcerated under conditions of severe isolation since 1999.

Omer Ocalan served as the co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) from 2014 to 2016. He was elected deputy for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in June 2018, and reelected in May 2023.