Erdoğan’s ultranationalist ally Destici: Turkey will execute Öcalan if death penalty reinstated

Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), will be executed if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signs off on a law to restore the death penalty, online news outlet T24 quoted the leader of the far-right Grand Unity Party (BBP) as saying.

Mustafa Destici

President Erdoğan last week said he would agree to restore the capital punishment, which Turkey abolished in 2004, if parliament passed such a law. The move would end Turkey’s decades-long bid to join the European Union.

Tens of thousands of people, mainly Kurds, have been killed in fighting between security forces and the PKK since the Kurdish militant group took up arms in 1984.

“Does Öcalan’s connection to a terrorist organisation still continue? It does. Is he still the leader of a terrorist organisation? He is. Does he still give orders? He does. As such, if he is tried as the instructor of these acts and receives the death penalty, then he will be executed,” BBP leader Mustafa Destici said.

The BBP has just one seat in the 600-seat parliament, but its views agree with many among the ruling party and its far-right coalition allies.

Destici previously suggested that a proposal to reinstate the death penalty for offences such as murder, treason and the sexual abuse of children would be introduced to Turkey’s parliament in October. He also suggested a referendum could be held in which the electorate could decide on the issue. (SCF with Ahval)

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