An emotional crowd gathered in Diyarbakir, the main city of Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast, to express their support on Thursday in response to a significant declaration made by Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). As Ocalan’s declaration was read out at an Istanbul press conference, his message was broadcasted to the thousands in attendance who had come to hear his words. Many in the crowd were overcome with emotion, some even shedding tears, as they reacted to his plea for peace.
Ocalan urged for the dissolution of the PKK and called for all militant groups to lay down their arms. “All groups must lay down their arms and PKK must dissolve itself,” he declared in a statement prepared during his solitary confinement on Imrali prison island, where he has been held since 1999. This declaration follows Ankara’s recent attempts to foster dialogue with the PKK leader, marking a potential shift in Turkey’s longstanding conflict with the group.
Emine Atac, a 45-year-old participant in the crowd, reflected the sentiment of many when she described the day as “a holy day, a blessed day,” expressing happiness with Ocalan’s message and a fervent desire for peace and freedom. Others shared her optimism, with 65-year-old Ferha Akbuyuk emphasizing that the message promoted “peace and brotherhood” between Turks and Kurds and was rooted in notions of humanity, rights, and justice.
However, the reception of Ocalan’s call was not universally positive. Some, like 52-year-old Sukru Erdogan, expressed disappointment, stating that the message lacked concrete proposals for federative governance or cultural rights for the Kurdish population in Turkey.
International responses to Ocalan’s declaration were largely supportive. Nechirvan Barzani, the president of Iraq’s Kurdish region, publicly encouraged the PKK to adhere to the call, signaling regional backing for the peace effort. The German foreign ministry hailed the declaration as a “historic chance” to bring an end to decades of conflict.
Experts view Ocalan’s message as a significant breakthrough. Hamish Kinnear, a senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, described it as a “seismic shift” for both Turkey and the wider region. However, analysts noted that the reaction from the PKK’s military leadership, primarily based in northern Iraq, remains uncertain. Boris James, a French historian who studies Kurdish issues, commented on the potential for a nuanced response, suggesting that while the military leaders might recognize Ocalan’s call, it may not necessarily translate into immediate practical action on the ground.
Particular concern exists over the PKK forces allied with the US-backed Syrian Defense Forces (SDF), who are currently fighting against Turkish-backed militias while facing pressure from the Assad regime to disarm. Analysts pointed out that how Ocalan’s message is received by PKK members in Turkey will influence the actions of militants based in Iraq and the SDF in Syria.
While there was no immediate response from the Turkish government, some officers within President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AKP party expressed a cautious optimism about the potential for peace if the PKK adheres to Ocalan’s call. Efkan Ala, the AKP’s deputy chairman, suggested that such adherence could free Turkey from the conflict that has plagued the country for decades.
Despite prior efforts to negotiate peace since Ocalan’s imprisonment, most notably the breakdown of talks in 2015, recent political developments indicate a renewed push towards dialogue. After years of stagnation, the current government’s overture towards Ocalan, initiated by hardline nationalist leaders, has introduced a glimmer of hope among those advocating for Kurdish rights, which comprise around 20 percent of Turkey’s population of 85 million. However, this hope is tempered by ongoing state-led crackdowns against opposition figures and activists, raising questions about the future of the peace process and the rights of the Kurdish community in Turkey.
