Ocalan Calls on PKK to Disarm, Potentially Ending Decades-Long Conflict
Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has urged his group to lay down arms, a move that could bring an end to a 40-year conflict with Turkey and reshape regional dynamics.
If the PKK leadership complies—an outcome that remains uncertain—President Tayyip Erdogan would have a historic opportunity to stabilize and develop Turkey’s southeastern region, which has suffered from decades of violence and economic hardship.
At 75 years old, Ocalan could also witness his long-held aspiration for peace realized.
Beyond Turkey, a PKK disarmament could have significant implications for neighboring Syria, potentially strengthening government control over its Kurdish-populated areas. Additionally, it could reduce tensions in northern Iraq, where the PKK has maintained a presence for over two decades in the oil-rich Kurdish territories.
In a letter made public by members of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party, Ocalan stated, “I am calling for the laying down of arms and accept the historical responsibility of this call.” He urged the PKK to convene a congress to officially dissolve itself.
A DEM Party delegation met with Ocalan at his prison on Imrali Island before announcing his statement in Istanbul. As of now, there has been no response from the PKK leadership in northern Iraq, where its commanders are based.
Government Reaction and Historical Context
Following Ocalan’s appeal, Efkan Ala, a senior member of Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, welcomed the possibility of the PKK disarming, stating that it would free Turkey from a long-standing burden. The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
Since launching its armed campaign in 1984, the PKK has been responsible for more than 40,000 deaths. Initially seeking an independent Kurdish state, the group later shifted its demands toward autonomy and expanded rights for Kurds within Turkey.
Four months ago, a political ally of Erdogan proposed that Ocalan urge his fighters to abandon their armed struggle—reviving hopes of a resolution a decade after a previous peace process failed.
In his letter, Ocalan emphasized the need for Turkey to uphold minority rights, freedom of expression, and democratic self-governance. “A new language of peace and democratic society must be developed,” he wrote, adding that armed conflict had “run its course” and should come to an end.
A Step Toward Peace?
Ocalan has been held in near-total isolation on Imrali Island since his capture in 1999. His latest appeal follows a series of meetings with DEM Party representatives, the third such visit since December.
With anticipation growing that Ocalan’s influence might persuade PKK fighters to disarm, the coming weeks will reveal whether this marks a turning point in Turkey’s long-standing conflict with the group.
