Introduction
On February 27, 2025, imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan made a historic call to his organization’s members for the dissolution of the outlawed political organization. Öcalan, who has been serving his sentence (lifetime imprisonment) in the prison of Imrali Island since his capture by Turkish security forces in 1999, prepared a special letter for this historical call. The letter was read yesterday to public by pro-Kurdish DEM Party’s top leaders Mardin Mayor Ahmet Türk and Van deputy Pervin Buldan in both Turkish and Kurdish languages. Öcalan’s letter carries important messages for the future of the Kurdish Question and thus, should be analyzed carefully.
Öcalan’s historic call: What did he say?
Öcalan begins his historic letter by saying that PKK was a product of the Cold War, based on the principles of “real socialism” and got strengthened thanks to the repressive policies adopted by the Turkish State after the military coup in 1980 as well as the rejection of the Kurdish reality. However, with the collapse of the USSR and the demise of the Marxist-Leninist principles’ hegemony in the leftist intellectual/political circles in the early 1990s as well as the Turkish State’s recognition of the Kurdish identity, the PKK had lost its existential essence and adopted a repetitive rhetoric. In that sense, Öcalan claims that the PKK has to be dissolved since it served its mission and directed the Turkish State to accept and recognize the Kurdish identity.
According to Öcalan, what is to be done next is to establish a truly democratic regime in Türkiye which would satisfy everyone. In Öcalan’s view, the very origins of the PKK were created by the Turkish State in the past due to the rejection of Kurdish existence and the insufficiency of democratic political channels in the country. However, since the mid-1990s, pro-Kurdish political parties have been legal and contest in democratic elections similar to all other (Turkish nationalist, Islamist, social democratic, Kemalist, socialist, conservative etc.) political parties. In that sense, Öcalan implies that democracy would cure all problems of Türkiye including the Kurdish Question. Moreover, in Öcalan’s idea, the models of nation-state, federation, autonomy, or culturalist solutions are not real solutions to the Kurdish Question. Rather, democracy itself would be the real solution to all problems.
Abdullah Öcalan underlines that the Republic of Türkiye’s second century would be more successful if the republican system were strengthened by the implementation of democracy. He also adds that the only way to claim one’s rights is democracy and there are no other options than democratic methods. In that sense, Öcalan states that by responding to MHP leader Dr. Devlet Bahçeli’s call, he is calling for the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK. Lastly, Öcalan urges the PKK leadership cadre to convey a congress and declare their decision of dissolution to everyone.
Analysis
PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s letter is a historic turning point for the solution of the PKK terrorism problem in Türkiye. Öcalan’s call clearly aims for the disarmament and dissolution of the organization. Since he is the founding leader of the organization, his call is truly important and could be influential to PKK members.
Öcalan’s letter is short but it seems like his transformation from a terrorist leader into a peace-seeking inmate is based on intellectual change. This intellectual transformation has materialized on the grounds of the rejection of all kinds of violence and the adoption of democratic methods instead. Moreover, Öcalan states that the Marxist/Leninist/Stalinist ideology and the real socialism teachings of the Cold War had lost their appeal and now it is the time for democracy as the ultimate ideology. The former PKK leader also believes that it was the Turkish State’s wrong policies in the past such as the rejection of the Kurdish identity and pressures made towards all leftist groups, which led to the condition that gave birth to the PKK. In that sense, Öcalan praises the Turkish State’s efforts for democratic transformation since the mid-1990s by recognizing the Kurdish identity and allowing pro-Kurdish political parties to contest in democratic elections.
Öcalan’s main idea is that the Kurdish Problem will be solved automatically in case Türkiye starts implementing a real democratic regime. To start this process, Öcalan believes that the dissolution of the PKK could be a good beginning. Following this, Türkiye’s gradual democratization would satisfy the Kurdish voters and make Türkiye a stronger country.
Conclusion
To conclude, Öcalan’s letter is extremely important but the effect it would have on the PKK members will be the decisive factor here. In case PKK leadership decides to dissolve the organization, that might help Türkiye to have a more stable, democratic, and peaceful regime inside. However, since the Kurdish Question is not only about PKK and Kurds in Türkiye, for regional peace, the future of Kurds in the region should be decided and similar stable and peaceful formulations must be arranged in other countries as well. The situation in Iraq seems fairly successful, but due to problems in Syria, after the “Turkish Spring”, a similar peace process is needed in Syria as well concerning PYD/YPG groups.
Lastly, Öcalan’s call is also important for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who needs Kurdish support in the parliament to be able to run for a third term presidency in the coming years. In case this would be the beginning of a new era of peace, Erdoğan might increase his chances of being elected for a final (third) time and become an unforgettable leader who solved the Kurdish problem. Although this is not a bright news for the opposition, I think the solution of the Kurdish dilemma is more important than the immediate leadership change in the country since Türkiye had lost more than 50,000 of its citizens and billions of dollars due to its fight against the PKK since the early 1980s. I hope peace will win this time…
Final word, this is a victory for both sides as the Turkish State has shown its ability not to allow any secessionist movements in the country in the past four decades and the Kurdish armed opposition has been able to procure the acceptance of the Kurdish identity to Türkiye and Turkish nationalists in many ways such as the formation of pro-Kurdish political parties, the creation of Kurdish tv channels, and the printing of Kurdish language books. In that sense, the victory belongs to Turkish people with all Turks and Kurds included…
Cover Photo: Sondakika.com
Prof. Ozan ÖRMECİ
