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Ocalan: Hoping for a New Political Era in Turkey

Published February 27, 2026, 14:12
Ocalan: Hoping for a New Political Era in Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK, expresses his hope for the beginning of a new political era in Turkey, one year after calling for the dissolution of the movement. Through a message read by a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, Ocalan calls on the Turkish state to act in this direction, emphasizing the need for a process based on democracy and the rule of law. The 76-year-old Ocalan, held in isolation since 1999, insists on his desire for a “turning of the page” and moving away from violence, stressing the need for new laws to govern a peaceful transition. Despite his call for renouncing armed struggle, the Turkish government has shown no intention of easing his detention conditions or considering a possible release. A committee of the Turkish parliament has already submitted a report on the integration of PKK fighters into Turkish society, without providing amnesty or taking a position on Ocalan's fate. The pro-Kurdish DEM party calls on the Erdogan government to take the initiative to promote peace and democracy. The co-chairperson of DEM, Tülay Hatimoğulları, praised Ocalan's “courage” to build the future, while the other co-chairperson, Tuncer Bakırhan, spoke of a “historical will” to resolve the Kurdish issue. He stressed, however, that peace cannot be achieved through unilateral sacrifices and that the responsibility lies with the Turkish state to take concrete measures, including defining the legal status of Ocalan.