Ocalan calls to 'dissolve' PKK and its fighters to lay down arms

Ocalan calls to dissolve PKK and urges its fighters to lay down arms — Turkey’s jailed Kurdish leader and founder of Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK Abdullah Ocalan (center) with Kurdish lawmakers, February 27, 2025. Photo: ANF

Disarming the PKK would not resolve the issues, Cemil Bayik, the co-president the political wing of the PKK

ISTANBUL,— Abdullah Ocalan, , the jailed Kurdish leader and the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has called for the dissolution of the militant group and urged its fighters to lay down their arms and end their armed struggle against the Turkish state, marking a significant development in the decades-long conflict that has caused thousands of deaths.

However, some sources have since suggested that a translation error led to misinterpretations of Ocalan’s statement. According to these sources, Ocalan did not call for the dissolution of the PKK but instead urged its members to disarm.

Ocalan, 75, who has been imprisoned on Imrali Island near Istanbul since 1999, made his appeal on Thursday, urging an end to decades of violence that have claimed tens of thousands of lives. The PKK, which Ocalan founded in 1978, began its armed struggle against Turkey in 1984, initially demanding independence for Kurdish-majority regions in Turkey, and later seeking greater autonomy.

The Kurdish rebel group is regarded as a “terrorist” organization by Turkey, the United States, the European Union, and several other Western nations. However, Ocalan is considered a symbol of Kurdish resistance and a hero by many Kurds, both in Turkey and internationally.

The PKK’s struggle has been one of the most protracted insurgencies in modern history, with an estimated death toll of over 40,000 people, including both Turkish military personnel and Kurdish fighters. While the PKK has mainly targeted military and government installations, it has been recognized for strictly avoiding civilian casualties in its operations. This approach has led many organizations around the world to call on governments to reconsider the PKK’s designation as a terrorist group.

The PKK has yet to respond to Ocalan’s call

If the PKK lays down its arms, the issue will not be solved, Bayik says

Cemil Bayik, the co-president of Executive Council Kurdistan Communities Union (Koma Civaken Kurdistan KCK), the political wing of the PKK, made strong statements regarding the Turkish government’s treatment of Kurds in an interview with Stêrk TV on February 14, 2025. Bayik accused the Turkish state of waging a campaign of terror against the Kurdish population.

Bayik claimed that the Turkish government has been systematically attacking Kurds, while framing the situation in a manner that suggests the Kurds are the aggressors. He emphasized that the Kurdish people, in reality, are only fighting to defend themselves and their identity. Bayik stated that the Kurdish population has taken up arms not out of a desire for violence but as a means of self-preservation.

“The Kurdish people have never sought war,” Bayik explained. “They have only taken up arms to defend themselves and prevent the eradication of their people.” He pointed out that throughout history, Kurds have faced forced displacement, mass violence, and denial of their basic rights. These continuous experiences of oppression, he said, have led the Kurds to fight for democracy and freedom.

In his comments, Bayik also criticized the Turkish government for its lack of support for democratic reform, claiming that any development of democracy would benefit the Kurdish population, allowing them to assert their rights and identity. He said that the Turkish government fears this and therefore pursues policies of violence and war to prevent such reforms from taking place.

The PKK leader accused the Turkish state of using terror tactics against the Kurdish population while framing Kurds as the perpetrators of violence. He also criticized the government’s insistence that the Kurdish issue does not exist, claiming that the state seeks to eliminate the Kurdish identity altogether by denying their rights.

Bayik cited examples of Turkish military operations in Syrian Kurdistan, including Afrin and Serêkaniyê, where Turkish forces raised the Turkish flag following their occupation. He stated that this was a clear symbol of the Turkish government’s denial of Kurdish self-determination and its intention to assert control over Kurdish territories.

According to Bayik, the Turkish state’s approach to resolving the conflict is simple: either Kurds abandon their identity or face persecution. He said that anyone who stands up for their Kurdish identity and culture is branded as a terrorist by the Turkish government.

Bayik also rejected the Turkish government’s repeated calls for the PKK to disarm, stating that disarmament would not resolve the underlying issue. He emphasized that the real problem lies in the Turkish government’s refusal to acknowledge the Kurdish issue and grant the Kurdish population the rights they deserve.

“If the PKK lays down its arms, the issue will not be solved,” Bayik stated. “The government is trying to mislead both the public and the international community by presenting disarmament as the solution.”

Bayik concluded his remarks by stating that the Kurdish people and their supporters, including socialists and democrats, are well aware of the Turkish government’s deceptive tactics. He asserted that the Turkish state’s policies, both domestically and internationally, are designed to maintain its power by manipulating the situation and distorting the truth about the Kurdish struggle.

An “olive branch”

In recent months, relations between the Turkish government and the PKK have shown signs of thawing. Since October 2024, Ocalan has been visited several times by lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish opposition People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which has advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. These visits were a rare development, as Ocalan has typically been held in isolation since his capture by Turkish forces in Kenya in 1999.

The olive branch from the Turkish government came from Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who suggested that Ocalan could play a key role in ending the conflict, provided he publicly renounce violence. Following this, Ocalan received his first family visit in four years, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape regarding the Kurdish issue.

Despite his incarceration, Ocalan has remained a central figure in the PKK. He previously ordered a ceasefire in 1999 that lasted until 2004, and in 2005, he instructed the PKK to abandon the pursuit of an independent Kurdish state in favor of seeking greater autonomy within Turkey. His role in unofficial peace talks with the Turkish government in 2013-2015 was a sign of his continued influence, even as tensions remained high.

The Kurdish issue remains a contentious topic in Turkish politics, with deep divisions over how to address the demands of the Kurdish minority, which constitutes roughly 30% of the country’s population. Ocalan’s statement has opened the door to renewed discussions, but whether this marks the beginning of a new phase in the peace process remains to be seen.

Iraqi Kurds welcome Ocalan’s call, urges PKK to disarm

Bafel Talabani with Nechirvan Barzani — Bafel Talabani (L) with Nechirvan Barzani (R) in Sulaimani city, Iraqi Kurdistan, May 22, 2022. Photo: Talabani’s FB

The president of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which has close ties and an alliance with Turkey, on Thursday welcomed a call from Abdullah Ocalan urging the group to disarm and dissolve.

“We welcome Ocalan’s message and urge the PKK to act on it,” Barzani stated on X. “The Kurdistan region fully supports the peace process and is ready to help ensure its success.”

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the other major party in the Kurdistan region, also voiced support for Ocalan’s remarks.

Bafel Talabani, leader of the PUK, described the appeal as a “responsible and necessary step” toward Kurdish unity and peaceful conflict resolution.

“We urge all parties to act on this statement and take concrete steps toward lasting peace,” Talabani wrote on X, calling it a significant opportunity for stability.

Germany Calls Ocalan’s Appeal for PKK Disbandment a ‘Historic Opportunity’

Germany on Thursday described the appeal by Abdullah Ocala for the group to disband as a “historic opportunity” to end the long-running conflict with Turkey.

“A cessation of violence is a crucial first step, but additional measures are necessary,” a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “The main thing is to protect the culture and democratic rights of Kurds in Turkey.”

The ministry also stated that Berlin stands ready to assist in facilitating the process.

(With files from AFP | Reuters | ANF | Agencies)