, is expected to call on the group to lay down its arms this week, two Turkish officials with knowledge of the matter told Middle East Eye (MEE), in what would be a major step toward ending a conflict that has spanned more than four decades.){kind=link}
Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), is expected to call on the group to lay down its arms this week, two Turkish officials with knowledge of the matter told Middle East Eye (MEE), in what would be a major step toward ending a conflict that has spanned more than four decades.
Öcalan’s statement, which could be delivered as early as Thursday, comes amid ongoing negotiations with the Turkish government, a process that was first publicly acknowledged last year by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Bahçeli had previously invited Öcalan to urge the disbanding of the PKK, potentially setting the stage for a legal process that could lead to his release under the “right to hope” principle, which rejects life imprisonment without parole.
The Turkish government’s renewed engagement with Öcalan is seen by many in Ankara as part of a broader strategy to address regional instability, particularly tensions involving Israel and Iran, sources told MEE. Officials believe resolving the Kurdish issue could help stabilize Turkey and its surrounding regions.
According to sources who spoke to MEE, Öcalan’s call for laying down arms is expected to be taken seriously by PKK leaders, though some factions may resist. Turkish authorities anticipate that most of the group will comply, with a government source telling MEE that those who refuse “will be dealt with using the full force of the military and the law.”
Since 2016 Turkey has largely pushed the PKK out of its borders through the use of its newly acquired military technology, including armed drones and electronic warfare, as well as forward military positions in northern Iraq that have blocked PKK access routes.
The pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has formed a contact group, the “İmralı Delegation,” which has visited Öcalan twice and relayed his messages to Turkish and Kurdish political actors. Öcalan has been held on İmralı Island in the Marmara Sea since 1999.
Turkey’s justice ministry has approved a third visit by the delegation to İmralı Island, where they are set to meet Öcalan on Thursday, with expectations that the imprisoned PKK leader will issue the historic call following the talks, DEM Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan announced, adding that the party believes a video statement from Öcalan would be the most effective way to deliver his message and emphasizing that they are “on the threshold of a new life,” while the delegation is expected to provide a detailed statement after the visit, according to Serbestiyet news website.
This time, the delegation will include seven people, among them one of Öcalan’s lawyers, Faik Özgür Erol.
The last time he met one of his legal team was in 2019.
Also joining are DEM Party co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan and Ahmet Türk, 82, a veteran Kurdish politician with a long history of involvement in efforts to resolve the Kurdish issue.
Deputy speaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder and lawmaker Pervin Buldan, who were both part of the earlier delegations, will also go, as will another DEM Party lawmaker.
While Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç previously ruled out a video address by Öcalan, two sources told MEE that his statement may still be delivered in that format. Concerns remain about the clarity of his message, as Öcalan is known for issuing lengthy, ambiguous statements that can be interpreted in multiple ways.
#BREAKING: Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reveals that the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan will call on the PKK to lay down arms and engage in political activities instead. #ErbilForum25 pic.twitter.com/BRlZLvqHJF
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 26, 2025
Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday confirmed that Öcalan will call on the PKK to lay down arms and shift toward political engagement, according to Rudaw English. Barzani’s remarks, made during the Erbil Forum 2025, align with Turkish officials’ expectations that Öcalan’s statement will mark a turning point in the decades-long conflict.
This comes after the DEM Party delegation’s trip to Iraqi Kurdistan, where they met with Barzani and senior figures from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), including party leader Bafel Talabani, who voiced support for the ongoing peace efforts. During their visit to Sulaymaniyah to meet with the PUK leader, the DEM Party delegation also met with senior PKK leaders to discuss Öcalan’s stance and the future of the peace process, according to Al-Monitor, which cited sources familiar with the talks.
JUST IN🎯"The DEM delegation also held a secret meeting with the PKK’s top field commanders in Sulaimaniyah, the stronghold of the KDP’s traditional rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, according to two well-placed sources who briefed Al-Monitor. Several DEM officials…
— Amberin Zaman (@amberinzaman) February 20, 2025
The Turkish government’s handling of the peace process has been met with skepticism, as authorities have simultaneously intensified a crackdown on pro-Kurdish politicians and civil society leaders. “The government does not want to appear weak in front of the PKK,” a Turkish official told MEE. “It aims to show that while it is pursuing peace, it will continue prosecuting those who break the law.”
Officials also see a potential resolution involving the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group with ties to the PKK that has been a key US partner in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). According to sources who spoke to MEE, discussions have included the possibility of the SDF expelling PKK members from its ranks and integrating with the Syrian government’s military in Damascus.
Erdoğan has taken a cautious approach to the process, allowing Bahçeli to assume political responsibility while making statements that indicate his involvement.
“We expect Öcalan to urge the PKK to lay down their weapons. This will be a crucial test of the PKK’s sincerity in its commitment to the peace process,” ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala told Turkish media on Sunday.