Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader, urged his militant group to disband. He took this step to end the four-decade conflict with Turkey. His call for peace, delivered from prison on an island near Istanbul, marks a major move toward resolving a deadly struggle.
In a statement read in both Kurdish and Turkish, pro-Kurdish politicians conveyed his message. Ocalan instructed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to convene a congress and formally decide to lay down arms.
“Convene your congress and make a decision. All groups must lay their arms, and the PKK must dissolve itself,” Ocalan stated.
This initiative follows a peace proposal launched in October by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli. The far-right leader suggested that Ocalan could receive parole if his group renounces violence and disbands.
Ocalan, now 75, has been serving a life sentence on Imrali Island since 1999 for treason. Despite his imprisonment, he holds strong influence over the PKK. While the group’s leadership may follow his directive, some factions might resist, analysts say.
Push for Greater Democracy in Turkey
This peace call comes at a crucial moment for Erdogan. He may need support from the pro-Kurdish DEM party in parliament to amend the constitution. The current law bars him from seeking another term unless an early election occurs. To make this move, he requires DEM’s backing.
For years, the DEM party has pushed for broader democratic rights, Kurdish identity recognition, and better conditions for Ocalan. However, Turkish officials have not revealed any promises made to Kurdish groups during this peace effort.
The PKK leadership, based in northern Iraq, has yet to respond. Founded in 1978, the PKK launched an insurgency in Turkey’s southeast in 1984. Turkey and its Western allies classify it as a terrorist organization. Previous peace talks, including the 2015 negotiations, failed.
Public Reaction and Government Crackdown
In Kurdish-majority cities like Diyarbakir and Van, crowds gathered in public squares to hear Ocalan’s announcement. However, authorities only allowed an audio recording instead of a live video.
Ocalan explained the PKK’s original armed resistance stemmed from Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge Kurdish identity. However, he stressed that armed struggle was no longer necessary.
“There is no alternative to democracy in the pursuit and realization of a political system. Democratic consensus is the fundamental way,” Ocalan declared.
During the reading of his message, a photograph of Ocalan with pro-Kurdish party officials and fellow inmates was displayed.
Efkan Ala, a senior member of Erdogan’s ruling party, supported Ocalan’s call.
“If the terrorist organization evaluates this call, lays down its arms, and gathers to dissolve itself, Turkey will be freed from its shackles,” Anadolu Agency quoted Ala as saying.
Regional Impact and Kurdish Response
Hoshyar Zebari, an Iraqi-Kurdish politician and former Iraqi foreign minister, called Ocalan’s statement a “historic and powerful word.” He said its timing could positively affect Kurdish politics in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.
In northeastern Syria, hundreds celebrated, hoping an end to the PKK-Turkey conflict would bring regional stability. Many believe peace will ease tensions between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed groups.
“We welcome the historic announcement by Leader Abdullah Ocalan, calling for an end to the war in (Turkey) and opening the way for a peaceful political process,” SDF commander Mazloum Abdi wrote on X.
However, Abdi clarified that Ocalan’s directive applied only to the PKK, not the SDF.
At a gathering in Qamishli, Kurdish researcher Lezgin Ibrahim explained Turkey’s stance. “Turkey always uses the Kurdistan Workers’ Party as a pretext to launch attacks against Kurds in Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces. The PKK’s dissolution means it can no longer be a pretext for Turkey, which will have positive outcomes for Syrians, and Kurds will gain a political role,” he said.
Hope and Skepticism Among Kurds
Murat Kilic, who listened to Ocalan’s message in Diyarbakir, expressed optimism.
“(Ocalan) has developed a new road map as an answer to the suffering that has been going on in this country for years,” he said. “The message that leader Ocalan gave is binding for us.”
However, he admitted that some families who lost loved ones might struggle with this transition.
Lawyer Mazlum Tenha also supported Ocalan’s call to disarm.
“If the founder of this movement is making this call, we will show our loyalty to the leadership and stand behind this movement, this call, until the end,” he said.
Tenha expressed disappointment over the lack of details on any potential agreement between Ocalan and the Turkish state. However, he remained hopeful that Kurds would gain more rights.
Among those present at the announcement in Istanbul were the Saturday Mothers. This group of women has fought for justice for their relatives, who disappeared in politically motivated killings during the 1980s and 1990s. They applauded Ocalan’s message, showing their support for peace.
Ongoing Political Tensions
Despite peace efforts, Erdogan’s government continues to crack down on the opposition. Authorities have arrested journalists and politicians. They have also removed several elected Kurdish mayors, replacing them with state-appointed officials.
Thursday’s meeting marked the third time DEM party officials spoke with Ocalan as part of these talks. They also consulted with imprisoned former pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas and traveled to Iraq to meet Kurdish leaders.
Although past peace efforts failed, many Kurds hope Ocalan’s latest call will lead to lasting change and a political resolution to this long-running conflict.
