ERBIL () - The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has placed the prominent “Right to Hope” case concerning Türkiye on the agenda of its upcoming meetings, as new legal developments surrounding the imprisonment of former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş bring renewed attention to the possibility of his release.
The Committee of Ministers, which oversees the implementation of judgments issued by the European Court of Human Rights, announced the agenda for its upcoming meetings. According to the approved work program, the committee will discuss the Türkiye-related “Kavala Group” case at its 1577th Human Rights meeting, scheduled from Jan. 1 to 3, while the “Right to Hope” case and Türkiye’s use of aggravated life imprisonment are also set to be examined during its January meetings.
The Council of Europe’s latest proceedings come as Türkiye considers new legal changes and as Demirtaş’s main Kobani case has been transferred to the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals for further examination.
At its most recent meeting concerning the case in September 2025, the Committee of Ministers called on Ankara to amend legislation governing aggravated life imprisonment in a way that would restore a “hope of release” for prisoners serving such sentences.
The committee also requested that Türkiye submit detailed information and an action plan by the end of June 2026, with the expectation that a new interim decision would be announced during its January meeting.
The Council of Europe’s proceedings coincide with continued debate and monitoring over the possibility of Demirtaş’s release.
The main Kobani case, for which Demirtaş was convicted, was transferred to the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals following a first-instance court ruling. The regional court has now begun examining and reviewing the case.
New legal developments in Türkiye
The legal development follows Türkiye’s parliament announcing on Aug. 10 the approval of a “Framework Law,” opening a new debate over whether Demirtaş and other prisoners involved in the same case could benefit from the new legal framework and secure their release or a reduction in their sentences.
At the same time, Mehmet Uçum, a senior adviser to the Turkish president, announced preparations for a “new organization of the penal law,” drawing renewed attention from legal and political circles.
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli also said that releasing Demirtaş would be a step that would be “useful and beneficial” for Türkiye, giving the case a new political dimension.
Demirtaş has been held in Edirne Prison since Nov. 4, 2016. His judicial proceedings have continued for years at both the domestic level in Türkiye and through decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, which has repeatedly called for his immediate release.
In a related development, the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals has placed the main Kobani case involving Demirtaş under examination and legal review.
The case concerns the Kobani events for which Demirtaş, the former co-chair of the HDP, was sentenced. Following the ruling of a first-instance court, the case was referred to the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals, where a panel of judges is now reviewing it.
The move came after parliament’s approval of the Framework Law on Aug. 10, which opened renewed discussion over whether Demirtaş and other prisoners in the same case could benefit from the new legal provisions to secure their release or reduce their sentences.
The judicial review is also taking place alongside preparations announced by Uçum for a new penal-law framework.
Bahçeli’s remarks have further drawn attention to the case. The MHP leader described the potential release of Demirtaş as a step that would be “useful and beneficial” for Türkiye.
Demirtaş has remained imprisoned in Edirne in northwestern Türkiye since Nov. 4, 2016. During that period, his case has continued to be examined through Türkiye’s domestic judicial system as well as in the context of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, which has repeatedly called for his immediate release.
The Ankara Regional Court’s final decision is now being closely watched as the domestic legal review proceeds alongside the Council of Europe’s examination of Türkiye’s legal framework concerning life imprisonment.
The parallel developments at the Council of Europe and the Ankara Regional Court have placed Demirtaş’s case under renewed legal scrutiny, with the outcome of the regional court review and Türkiye’s response to European human-rights requirements remaining central to the case’s next stage.
