Exploring the Right to Hope: Who Does it Benefit? – Daily News Update
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s Statements Spark Discussion on “Right to Hope” for PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan
In a recent statement, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s comments about the “right to hope” for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan have caused a stir. But what exactly is the right to hope and who does it apply to?
The concept of the right to hope revolves around evaluating whether it is feasible to conditionally release individuals serving prison sentences for good behavior within the time frames stipulated by law. Essentially, it is a mechanism that outlines the process for integrating convicts, particularly those serving life or aggravated life imprisonment, back into society under specific conditions.
In Turkey, the right to hope is governed by the Penal Execution Law. Following the abolition of the death penalty in 2001, individuals previously sentenced to death for terrorist offenses were instead given life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This includes the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan, whose sentence was commuted to aggravated life imprisonment. In 2004, conditional release for crimes involving terrorism and aggravated life sentences was also eliminated.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled against Turkey in 2014 for failing to grant Öcalan the right to hope, citing it as a form of ill-treatment. The court highlighted that prisoners granted the right to hope should have the opportunity for eventual release and that the potential threat they pose to society should be assessed. Despite this ruling, Turkey has not acknowledged the decision.
If Turkey were to recognize the court’s judgment, a new legal framework would be required regarding the application of the right to hope for terrorist offenses. Bahçeli’s remarks have reignited the debate on this issue, shedding light on the complexities surrounding the concept and its implications for individuals like Abdullah Öcalan.
