Abdullah Öcalan Signals End of ‘Violence-Based Politics’ in New Message

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Abdullah Öcalan

Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned Leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has issued a fresh message to his supporters and political allies, calling for a decisive break from violence and emphasising the shift towards peaceful political engagement. 

The statement was read out publicly today by Pervin Buldan, a co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, at an event in Ankara marking the first anniversary of Öcalan’s historic appeal for the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve itself. 

In the message, Öcalan declared that “a new era of politics and its strategy is opening”, and that the movement was closing the chapter on violence-based politics. He praised recent efforts in Türkiye involving leaders from across the political spectrum and reiterated his belief that long-term peace requires a comprehensive transition to democratic and political solutions. 

Exactly one year ago, on 27 February 2025, Öcalan issued a landmark appeal urging the PKK to convene a congress, lay down its weapons and formally disband — a dramatic shift from decades of armed struggle.

In his latest message, Öcalan stressed that the transition requires more than legal changes alone; it needs a broader framework for democratic integration and political participation. He described the current phase as one in which structures that continuously reassess strategy and tactics are being developed, highlighting his view that the future of the Kurdish issue must be resolved through dialogue and political means.