Ankara, February 27, 2025: Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has called for the group’s dissolution, urging all its factions to lay down arms. The historic statement, read by pro-Kurdish politicians on Thursday, could mark a turning point in the four-decade conflict between the PKK and Turkey.
In his one-and-a-half-page statement, Ocalan acknowledged that armed resistance was once necessary due to policies restricting Kurdish identity, rights, and freedoms. However, he now argues that regional developments and democratic steps by Turkey have rendered armed struggle meaningless.
“All groups must lay down their arms, and the PKK must dissolve itself.”
His reference to “all groups” suggests that his call extends beyond the PKK in Turkey, including its affiliates in Syria and Iran.
Ocalan also rejected ideas of a separate Kurdish state, federation, or autonomous administration, advocating instead for a democratic system where all communities have equal rights:
“Respect for identities, free self-expression, and democratic self-organization are only possible through a democratic society and political space. There is no alternative to democracy in establishing a political system.”
Ocalan’s message was read aloud by the Imrali Delegation, a group of pro-Kurdish politicians from the Dem Party, who met him at Imrali Island Prison. The delegation included Ocalan’s lawyer and a politician with close ties to the PKK leadership in the Qandil Mountains, Iraq.
His statement was broadcast live on large screens in the Kurdish-majority cities of Van and Diyarbakir, drawing widespread attention.
Salih Muslim, co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)—a PKK-affiliated Syrian Kurdish group—welcomed Ocalan’s statement:
“We agree with Ocalan’s position. If we were allowed to engage in political activity freely, there would be no need for weapons.”
He emphasized that the Kurdistan Workers’ Congress would ultimately decide the group’s next steps.
The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union, due to its attacks on civilians. While past peace talks have collapsed, new negotiations between Ocalan and the Turkish government began last year.
In October 2024, Turkish nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, publicly invited Ocalan to address parliament to formally call for the PKK’s disbandment. The move was seen as a step toward a legal process that could allow Ocalan’s eventual release under the “right to hope” principle, which limits life imprisonment to a maximum of 25 years.
Insiders in Ankara believe the Turkish government’s motivation for negotiating with Ocalan is linked to regional tensions between Israel and Iran. Officials fear the Kurdish issue could become a geopolitical vulnerability and view its resolution as crucial for Turkey’s long-term stability.
A Turkish source familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that Ankara expects most PKK factions to comply with Ocalan’s call. However, some splinter groups may resist.
“Those who refuse to comply will face the full force of the military and the law.”
Since 2016, Turkey has significantly weakened the PKK’s operational capacity through drone warfare, electronic surveillance, and military operations. The Turkish army’s forward bases in northern Iraq have also cut off the PKK’s traditional access routes, further isolating the group.
PKK leaders have repeatedly stated their commitment to following Ocalan’s orders, suggesting the group could indeed disband.
Throughout this process, Erdogan has remained in the background, allowing Bahceli to take the political risks. However, he has occasionally signaled his involvement, hinting at a broader strategy for Kurdish reconciliation.
Ocalan’s call for the PKK’s dissolution marks a potentially historic moment in the decades-long Turkey-PKK conflict. If his followers comply, it could reshape Kurdish politics in Turkey, Syria, and beyond, paving the way for a new era of political engagement instead of armed resistance.
However, the success of this process will depend on whether all factions of the PKK—particularly its more radical elements—agree to lay down their arms and whether the Turkish government follows through with genuine political reforms.
