Kemal Burkay. Hürriyet photo

Prominent Kurdish poet and one of the most important figures among Kurdish politicians Kemal Burkay has decided to return Turkey after 31 years of a lifetime in exile.

In an interview with Kemal Burkay in November, Burkay said the conditions in Turkey are not ready yet for his return, but recently he said he decided to return to his home country.

“Of course, the Kurdish problem is not being solved yet. The Kurdish initiative is not continuing. This is a negative situation. In this context, the state of Kurdish people has not improved yet. Speaking about rights and liberties, there are other problems too. At least the Kurdish issue is widespread and it can be openly talked about. There is a political party who involved Hak-Par [a pro-Kurdish party] inside its party program and it is not being closed yet. Besides there is a Kurdish TV channel that broadcasts all day long,” Burkay said.

Burkay explained the why he wanted to return: “Even if the legislation [regarding the Kurdish issue] has not changed yet, we are in a different point than we were in the past. Of course this is a result of the struggle by the Kurdish public and democratic powers in general.”

Burkay added the legislation [in Turkey] should be brought in better terms, in order to let him return. He also said the prime minister told him to return and the interior minister made a phone call to him [regarding his return from exile].

Burkay said he didn’t think he would be accused of any crimes in today’s current conditions.

“ Even though it is a risk, I am ready to share the risk for my country to be democratized, for the improvement of the Kurdish rights and democratic rights in general,” Burkay said.