Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), has called for the dissolution of all groups within the terrorist organization and an end to its more than 40-year-long campaign of violence.
In a letter from prison, Ocalan stated, “All groups should lay down their arms, and the PKK should dissolve itself.”
Ocalan’s statement acknowledged the recent calls made by Devlet Bahceli and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, along with the positive responses from other political parties. He described this as creating an environment in which he felt compelled to make a call for the laying down of arms, taking on historical responsibility for this message.
“…All groups must lay down their arms, and the PKK must dissolve itself,” he added.
Efkan Ala, deputy chairman of Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, responded to Ocalan’s call by recognizing the statement but emphasizing the need for tangible actions to follow. “We will look at the result,” Ala said. He added that if the PKK follows through, Türkiye would “be freed from its shackles.”
The PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a deadly campaign for over four decades, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths, including those of women, children, and the elderly.
