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Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said a free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital will eventually be established and recognized worldwide, speaking at Batman University's opening ceremony for the 2026-2027 academic year.

In the lecture titled "The Turkey Model, National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy," Kurtulmuş also addressed the Terror-Free Turkey process, the Libya maritime agreement and Turkey's efforts in international forums to stop Israeli aggression.

Opening lecture at Batman University

Kurtulmuş set out three requirements for the Terror-Free Turkey process to continue successfully. The most important is that the terrorist organization lay down its arms entirely and dissolve itself; the integration of its offshoots abroad, particularly the PYD, YPG and KCK structures in Syria, with the country's new administration is a development that eases work in Turkey and strengthens steps toward a terror-free region, Kurtulmuş said. The second is the rapid building of a Turkey with high democratic standards, since countries with a strong voice and strong democratic participation leave no room for illegal organizations.

The third requirement is that the public see the results of the process directly. Kurtulmuş said production will rise and cities will develop, citing Diyarbakır and Mardin as places where tourists now fill the streets, restaurants and cultural centers. Areas that have won through terrorism and war will be replaced by brotherhood, a peace economy and the prosperity of the region's people, Kurtulmuş said, while warning that circles disturbed by the end of terrorism exist and that provocations and statements that go beyond their purpose must be watched carefully.

Kurtulmuş argued that Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Sunnis and Alevis share the same homeland and values, citing Kurdish and Turkish thinkers from Ahmed-i Hani and Molla-i Ceziri to Rumi, Yunus Emre, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli and Hacı Bayram-ı Veli as voices of the same brotherhood, peace and wisdom. The Terror-Free Turkey process is not only about dismantling an organization or passing a law, Kurtulmuş said; it is about bringing together the geographies that were broken apart a century ago and walking forward together. Kurtulmuş said contributions from young people and academics to the process are of great value.

Key takeaways

• Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said a free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital will be established and recognized worldwide.
• Kurtulmuş called Libya's approval of the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum a major diplomatic success and said the Seville map project has collapsed.
• The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration passed with a record 467 votes in parliament.
• Kurtulmuş set out three conditions for the Terror-Free Turkey process: disarmament and dissolution, higher democratic standards and visible public gains.