The leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, called for disbanding the organization based in Türkiye, and laying down all weapons and for the PKK to return to peaceful democratic political activity. Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence for terrorism and murder, made his historic statement in a televised address, in a move that could end a half-century of insurgency and terror.
Öcalan called on the PKK to “convene your congress and make a decision; all groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself,” Öcalan was quoted as saying in Turkish, Kurdish, English, and Arabic. He further stated, “I call for laying down arms and assume the historical responsibility of this call.”
“Respect for identities, freedom to express themselves, democratic organization, socio-economic and political structures that all segments base themselves on are only possible with the existence of a democratic society and political sphere.”
This historic decision began with an invitation from Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli. Öcalan was supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to appear in parliament and renounce terrorism. That began a process of mediation by the Kurdish-oriented DEM Party between Öcalan and other Kurdish leaders, including the leaders of the Kurdish region of Iraq that has now concluded with this statement. The move has significant implications for regional security, since the PKK has sister organizations operating in Iran and Syria, which now will be under pressure to resolve their differences with their governments. This is particularly important for the new authorities in Syria, since the Syrian Kurds, who have been supported by the U.S., have yet to resolve their relations with both the Syrian government and Türkiye.