Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder and leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has called on his militant group to lay down its arms and disband. His declaration, described as a historic turning point, was read out in İstanbul on Thursday.
“All armed groups must lay down their arms, and the PKK must dissolve,” Öcalan stated in a message conveyed by a delegation of lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) following their visit to him in prison earlier that day.
The Kurdish version of Öcalan’s statement was read by veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk, while DEM Party lawmaker Pervin Buldan delivered the Turkish version at a news conference in an İstanbul hotel.
Öcalan emphasized that he was assuming the “historic responsibility” of his call, extending his gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli for their support in achieving peace.
“The call made by Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, along with the will expressed by Mr. President and the positive responses from political parties towards the anticipated appeal, have created an environment where I can make this call for disarmament. I take full historical responsibility for this call,” Öcalan declared.
He urged the PKK to convene a congress to formally decide on disarmament, adding, “Like any modern political movement that has not been forcibly dismantled, you must voluntarily hold a congress and make a decision: all armed groups must disarm, and the PKK must dissolve.”
Öcalan Acknowledges Kurdish Struggle but Says Armed Conflict is No Longer Necessary
Öcalan also addressed the root causes of the PKK’s armed struggle, citing the state’s past refusal to recognize Kurdish identity. However, he asserted that there was no longer a justification for continuing armed conflict.
Founded by Öcalan in 1978, the PKK has waged a violent insurgency in southeastern Turkey since 1984. Turkey and its Western allies classify the group as a terrorist organization.
“There is no alternative to democracy in the pursuit of a political system. Democratic consensus is the fundamental path forward,” Öcalan stated.
In the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakır, around 3,000 people gathered to listen to an audio broadcast of Öcalan’s message. Some in the crowd applauded spontaneously, while others were seen in tears.
Unanswered Questions on Government Concessions
While calling for disarmament, Öcalan did not specify what steps, if any, the Turkish government would take to address Kurdish demands for broader political and cultural rights. He also did not set any explicit preconditions for the PKK’s disarmament.
DEM Party lawmaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who was part of the peace delegation, revealed that Öcalan had shared a note with them at the end of their four-hour meeting.
According to the note, Öcalan stated: “The abandonment of arms and the dissolution of the PKK undoubtedly require the recognition of democratic politics and its legal framework,” though he did not elaborate further.
Renewed Peace Efforts After Years of Silence
Öcalan, 75, has been serving a life sentence without parole on İmralı Island since his capture in Nairobi in February 1999. Over the years, various attempts have been made to end the conflict, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives. However, the last peace negotiations collapsed amid violence in 2015.
Following years of no contact, the possibility of renewed peace talks emerged in October when MHP leader Bahçeli unexpectedly extended a peace gesture to Öcalan, provided he renounced violence. President Erdoğan endorsed the move, fueling speculation about a new initiative.
Since then, a DEM Party delegation has met with Öcalan and later briefed parliamentary parties on their discussions. Their visit on Thursday marked the third such meeting.
The latest engagement has heightened anticipation that Öcalan’s call for disarmament could pave the way for political concessions to Turkey’s Kurdish population.
The delegation visiting Öcalan on Thursday included DEM Party Co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, along with veteran Kurdish leader Ahmet Türk, 82, a longtime advocate for resolving the Kurdish issue. Lawmakers Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan, who were also part of previous peace efforts, attended the meeting, along with another DEM Party representative.
