Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi said in a video message to the International Conference on Peace and Democratic Society in Istanbul that the release of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan is essential to kickstart the peace process.

 Nobel Peace Prize laureate #Shirin_Ebadi said in a video message to the International Conference on Peace and Democratic Society in Istanbul that the release of imprisoned #Kurdish leader #Abdullah_Ocalan is essential to kickstart the peace process.

Stressing that war is not the solution, Ebadi said three decades of conflict in Turkey have shown that violence has only caused human casualties and that no one has benefited from it.

She praised those who have put down arms and chosen the pen, adding that political struggle and party activism are the only acceptable path to achieving rights.

She described Ocalan as the initiator of a great change and called for his return to his supporters and the resumption of diplomatic talks to ease the path to democracy.

Ebadi said Turkey, with its ethnic diversity, could become a model for the region and that improving the situation of Kurds in the country would have positive consequences for Kurds in Iran.

Criticizing the Islamic Republic's "discriminatory" treatment of the Kurds, he expressed hope that Tehran would learn to respect the rights of all citizens.

In the end, Ebadi once again considered Öcalan's release a prerequisite for the peace process and said: "You are sitting at the negotiating table after years of struggle, I am confident that you will succeed."