Öcalan Says Kurds Are at a Historic Turning Point, Calls for Democratic National Unity

Peregraf — Jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) founder Abdullah Öcalan has described the Kurdish people as being at a "historic turning point," urging greater unity among Kurdish political forces and calling for the resolution of disputes through dialogue, politics, and democratic negotiation rather than conflict.

In a message published for the 24th General Assembly of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), Öcalan said the Kurds have become a central force in Middle Eastern affairs and can no longer be excluded from regional political calculations.

"Today, the Kurdish people are passing through an important historical phase," Öcalan wrote in the message, dated June 1, from İmralı Prison.

"It is no longer possible to discuss a Middle Eastern equation without factoring in the Kurds and treating their will as non-existent." 

Call for Kurdish Unity

Öcalan argued that Kurdish national unity cannot be achieved by a single party or movement and instead requires cooperation among all Kurdish political forces, intellectuals, women, youth, and civil society actors.

He emphasized that democratic unity does not require eliminating differences but rather finding common ground on issues affecting the Kurdish people.

"Kurds must no longer be used against one another," he said, adding that national achievements should be protected through a shared vision and collective responsibility.

Dialogue Instead of Conflict

The jailed PKK founder called for a broad process of dialogue and negotiation among Kurdish groups, arguing that past divisions should be overcome through discussion rather than confrontation.

According to Öcalan, the future of the Kurdish people depends not only on questions of political status but also on building a democratic society where disputes are resolved through law, politics, and democratic mechanisms.

"The principles of a democratic society base the resolution of problems not on war and violence, but on politics, law, and democratic negotiation," he stated.

Vision for the Region 

Öcalan also called for stronger cooperation between Kurds and other peoples of the Middle East, saying the goal should be coexistence, equality, and democratic solidarity rather than conflict and division.

He argued that protecting Kurdish achievements and strengthening democratic values should be a shared responsibility for all Kurdish political and social actors.

Message Comes Amid Ongoing Peace Efforts 

The statement comes as discussions continue regarding the future of the Kurdish peace process in Türkiye.

Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on İmralı Island since 1999, called in February 2025 for the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve itself. The PKK subsequently announced its formal dissolution at its 12th Congress in May 2025, though questions over the legal framework for disarmament and reintegration remain unresolved as of June 2026.

In his previous messages, Öcalan urged the PKK to abandon armed struggle and pursue democratic political methods, while emphasizing the need for legal and political reforms to support a lasting peace process.