Sulaymaniyah: A prominent leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Besi Hozat, has called for the release of Kurdish leader Abdullah €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“calan, who has been imprisoned in Imrali Prison off Istanbul since 1999.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Hozat made this demand during a press statement following a ceremony in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah, where a group of PKK militants burned their weapons. Hozat emphasized the necessity of legal guarantees for €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦‚¬Å¡¬€¦‚¬Å“calan’s freedom, stating, “Legal guarantees for Leader Apo’s physical freedom, through legal guarantees, are essential… This is our basic condition and demand. Without this development, it is highly unlikely that the process will continue successfully.”

Hozat further stated that PKK members wish to return to Turkey to participate in its political life. She asserted that Turkey must allow them the right to engage in democratic politics. “We are ready to go to Turkey to engage in democratic politics. We want to do so to continue our struggle for freedom and democracy and to strengthen democratic socialism in Turkey,” she said.

Additionally, Hozat stressed the need for security assurances for fighters wishing to return to Turkey. She warned that without legal and constitutional guarantees, returning fighters face the risk of imprisonment or death.