‘No house arrest possible for Öcalan’

ANKARA

Bülent Arınç. AA photo

Pledging house arrest for Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), was impossible and could only be considered if the PKK laid down its weapons, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said. 

“This was what I said last week. I don’t care who says what,” Arınç said, in response to deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay’s denying remarks he made last week over the issue. 

In an interview last week, Arınç said house arrest for Öcalan could only be possible if the PKK drops its weapons unconditionally. His comments sparked a controversy within his party. Atalay categorically denied the idea, saying the government had no such plan. 

“Öcalan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, cannot enjoy probation,” he said, adding that any proposal before the disarmament of the PKK would be seen as a political demand and the government would not consider it. “They will drop their weapons in any case,” he said.