A veteran politician has called for the reintroduction of capital punishment for a temporary period to fight the growing threat of terrorism at the hands of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) more effectively.

Veteran politician Besim Tibuk says that the death penalty should be temporarily reintroduced for a five-year period.

Speaking at a press conference in İstanbul on Friday Besim Tibuk, the honorary chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said the death penalty would be enough to deter the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, from guiding the terrorist organization from prison.

According to Tibuk, there are clear signs showing that Öcalan has strengthened his position as the leader of the terrorist group and is giving directions to the PKK from his prison on İmralı Island off İstanbul. A temporary amendment to the Constitution and adjustments to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) to revive capital punishment for a period of five years would deal a serious blow to the PKK, he said. Turkey lifted the death penalty in 2002 as part of reforms aimed at membership in the European Union.

Tibuk also called for stronger measures in the penal code, saying the current code is too soft and encourages terrorists.

Tibuk said Turkey’s most important problem over the last 50 years was terrorism and that the terror’s sources are mainly from within the country. Remembering the period that Öcalan was arrested in 1999, Tibuk said that during court proceedings the terrorist activities of the PKK had nearly ended. “It was just because of the capital punishment that existed in our laws then. The possibility of Öcalan’s execution had imposed great pressure, which stopped the terror network,” Tibuk claimed.

After the abolishment of capital punishment and the sending of Öcalan to prison, his leadership was safeguarded and continued over the PKK’s terror network. Tibuk continued: “Öcalan’s greatest fear is to be forgotten behind bars. The PKK has carried out a significant campaign of propaganda for the amnesty and release of Öcalan in the last three years.”

According to Tibuk, in order to stop the PKK, Öcalan must first be stopped. “Once you stop him from supervising the PKK, then terror will be stopped,” Tibuk argued. “The best way to renounce terror is to bring back capital punishment temporarily,” he suggested. “The death penalty should also be applicable to those who lead or encourage terror as well as to those who kill police and soldiers intentionally,” Tibuk added.

With this suggestion Tibuk said he is not seeking Öcalan’s execution. “We are passing through a crisis. It is an extraordinary situation for Turkey. By simply bringing back the death penalty for only five years, our intention is not the beat up the garden keeper but to enjoy the fruits,” said Tibuk, referring to an old Turkish proverb.

“We are not seeking the execution of Öcalan right after the death penalty is reinstated. Prosecutors should collect evidence and proof that Öcalan is encouraging terror and then can open up a court case,” Tibuk said. The possibility of a death penalty will be more than enough to stop Öcalan, according to him. “In this case, two options will be laid out before Öcalan: either execution for being in charge of encouraging terror or for him to cooperate to contribute to an end in terror, which may lead to his release in 20 years, “ Tibuk concluded.