The imprisoned leader of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey has issued a fresh appeal for the government in Ankara to enact new legislation aimed at advancing peace efforts to resolve their decades-long conflict. Abdullah Ocalan's message, read out in parliament on Friday, comes a year after his historic call for the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself.
Ocalan's Call for Democratic Integration
In his statement, Ocalan emphasised that "the transition to democratic integration necessitates laws of peace." The message was delivered by Pervin Buldan, a senior member of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), who read aloud: "We aim to close the era of politics based on violence and to open a process based on a democratic society and the rule of law." Ocalan also invited all segments of society to create opportunities and take responsibility in this direction.
Parliamentary Reforms and Peace Efforts
This appeal follows weeks after a multi-party parliamentary commission recommended a series of reforms to support peace initiatives. These measures include reintegrating PKK members who renounce violence, expanding freedom of expression, releasing older or sick prisoners, and ensuring that nonviolent acts are not prosecuted under anti-terror laws. The commission stressed that legal steps should be tied to state security institutions verifying that the group has surrendered its weapons.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has waged an armed insurgency since 1984, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and spilling into neighbouring Iraq and Syria. After Ocalan's announcement on February 27, 2025, the PKK stated in May that it would disarm and disband, ending over four decades of hostilities. A symbolic disarmament ceremony was held in northern Iraq, where fighters burned dozens of weapons in a cauldron before withdrawing remaining forces from Turkey to Iraq.
Political Responses and Ongoing Challenges
On Friday, the DEM party urged the adoption of these legal measures, with co-chairman Tuncer Bakirhan stating: "The state and the executive branch are obligated to move this process forward with the seriousness and determination that matches Mr. Ocalan's pace for a solution. The responsibility now rests with the state and the executive branch." Ocalan, 76, has been imprisoned on the island of Imrali since 1999 after being convicted of treason, yet he continues to wield significant influence over the PKK. Initially seeking an independent Kurdish state, the group has shifted to demands for autonomy and expanded rights in Turkey.
The ongoing peace process faces challenges, including verification of disarmament and the implementation of reforms. However, Ocalan's latest message highlights a continued push for legislative action to foster a lasting resolution to the conflict, marking a critical juncture in Turkey's efforts to address Kurdish issues through democratic means.
