Abdullah Öcalan Calls for Peace Laws and End to Armed Struggle

Abdullah Öcalan, the founder and ideological leader of the PKK, who has been in solitary confinement since 1999, has called for a radical shift in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. In his second appeal in recent months, the leader of the Kurdish insurgency declared his desire to close the era of violence and transition to full political activity within Turkey's democratic structures. A key element of his proposal is the demand for parliament to pass "peace laws," which would provide a legal foundation for the disarmament and reintegration of fighters. Öcalan argues that without solid legislative guarantees, the peace process will remain merely a fragile promise, vulnerable to shifts in the political climate. The conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK has continued uninterrupted since 1984 and has claimed over 40,000 lives, becoming one of the bloodiest and longest ethnic-political disputes in the Middle East in the 20th and 21st centuries. The leader's statement has garnered significant interest from international media, which interpret it as an attempt to break the deadlock in relations with the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Öcalan's proposal encompasses not only military issues but, above all, systemic state reform, including increased local self-government in southeastern Turkey. The pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which is mediating communication, notes that the current moment is a historic opportunity to end the bloodshed. At the same time, analysts point to enormous challenges facing this initiative, including resistance from parts of the Turkish nationalist elite and skepticism from some PKK commanders stationed in the Kandil Mountains in Iraq. 27 lat — Abdullah Öcalan has been imprisoned since his capture in Kenya The situation in Turkey remains tense, and the government in Ankara has not yet presented an official timetable for work on the suggested laws. Nevertheless, Öcalan's readiness for dialogue and his call to end armed struggle constitute a strong signal for both sides of the conflict. The new phase, which the leader calls "democratic integration," would require the Turkish state to revise its approach to the Kurdish minority, including reforms in education and language. Geopolitical experts emphasize that the success of a peace process in Turkey would be crucial for the stability of the entire region, especially given the ongoing crises in Syria and Iraq, where Kurdish formations play a significant military and political role.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal and pro-Kurdish media emphasize the historic opportunity for peace and the necessity of amnesty and democratic reforms within the state. Conservative and nationalist media in Turkey treat the appeals with distrust, viewing them as an attempt by a convicted terrorist to preserve influence.