ISTANBUL, Turkey — Sirri Sureyya Onder, a prominent figure in Turkey’s ongoing attempts to resolve the Kurdish conflict that has spanned four decades, has passed away at the age of 62.
He succumbed to multiple organ failure, 18 days after being hospitalized due to a heart attack, as per the information released by Florence Nightingale Hospital situated in Istanbul’s Sisli district.
Onder was a parliamentary member representing the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), which is pro-Kurdish in its standing. He played a vital role among politicians who engaged directly with Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, in seeking resolutions towards peace.
Recently, Onder accompanied Pervin Buldan, another DEM Party lawmaker, in meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Their aim was to establish a peace framework aimed at resolving a conflict responsible for numerous fatalities over the years.
The initiative for peace gained renewed momentum in February when Ocalan advocated for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party to dissolve. Subsequently, the group, considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and most Western nations, declared a ceasefire days after Ocalan’s call.
President Erdogan characterized these developments as a critical chance to dismantle the long-standing barrier of terror separating Turks and Kurds.
The DEM Party expressed their condolences in a statement, underscoring the importance of honoring Onder’s memory by continuing the struggle for peace that he championed. Numan Kurtulmus, the Parliament Speaker, honored Onder as a cherished individual recognized for his political integrity, gentle nature, and modesty.
Before his political career, Onder was a film actor and director and also served as deputy parliament speaker. His time in parliament was noted for his calm composure and humor, distinguishing him within Turkey’s often intense political atmosphere.
Although not ethnically Kurdish, Onder devoted his political career to advocating for pro-Kurdish parties, entering parliament initially in 2011. He experienced imprisonment, including a seven-year term as a young man for opposing the 1980 military coup, and faced incarceration again in 2018 due to a speech he delivered five years earlier.
Onder’s involvement was not limited to recent efforts; he was also a participant in a delegation during a prior peace attempt from 2013 to 2015, aimed at addressing the Kurdish conflict.