ISTANBUL - Abdullah Öcalan, in the message he sent for Sırrı Süreyya Önder through the members of the Imrali Delegation, said: "I see that many people are visiting the hospital where Önder is staying, showing loyalty to his legacy. Real loyalty means putting his efforts for peace into practice."

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) Party Wan (Van) MP Pervin Buldan and Asrin Law Office lawyer Faik Özgür Erol organised a press statement in front of the hospital where DEM Party Parliamentary Deputy Chair and member of the İmralı Delegation Sırrı Süreyya Önder is being treated. Pervin Buldan shared the message that Öcalan wrote for Önder.

 

Before the message, Pervin Buldan also mentioned that the meeting with Öcalan lasted two and a half hours and was very productive. She said that Öcalan remains hopeful about the process and continues his work.

 

The message by Öcalan reads as follows:

 

"I wish a full recovery to Sırrı Süreyya Önder after his recent health issues. I send my best wishes to his family, all his friends, and loved ones. I’ve had a 12-year working relationship with Sırrı Süreyya Önder. His great importance lies in this: as an ideal person of Adıyaman and Turkmen origin, he represents the Baba İshak tradition. He is someone who brought the effort for peace into the public sphere, and who broke social prejudices in his own person. He did it. He broke those prejudices in society, in Parliament, and on the streets.

 

In his person, what we call Anatolian genes and culture came to life. Peace means making those Anatolian genes and the Turkmen tradition livable. Önder is such a person, and this is the essence of true Turkmen identity: the best peace identity, the best peace culture. It’s the complete opposite of the mindset that insists on creating enemies and doing politics that way.

 

Önder’s ability to deal with adversity and manage it is important; he can turn negative situations into positives before they deepen. I see that many people are visiting the hospital where Önder is staying, showing loyalty to his legacy. Real loyalty means putting his efforts for peace into practice. Once again, I send my best wishes to him, his family, his loved ones, and to all of society. I hope he recovers soon and returns to us in his most joyful and strongest form."