Peregraf
Kurdish politician Mohammed Amin Penjweni has revealed new developments regarding the health and political strategy of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, as disclosed during a telephone conversation with pro-Kurdish lawmaker Pervin Buldan from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) delegation.
According to Penjweni, Buldan assured him that Ocalan is in good health and high spirits. When asked about the stalled peace process and why PKK leaders in Qandil had expressed a lack of awareness about it, Buldan responded, “President Ocalan will soon inform Qandil of everything in a special letter.”
The revelation comes on the heels of a significant meeting between Ocalan and pro-Kurdish lawmakers Sirri Sureyya Onder and Pervin Buldan on December 28, 2024, at Imrali Island. During the meeting, Ocalan called for a renewed peace process, stressing the urgent need for Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood and democratic change.
In a statement issued by Onder and Buldan, Ocalan outlined a comprehensive framework for addressing the Kurdish issue and regional instability. Referencing recent events in Gaza and Syria, Ocalan warned that the Kurdish question, exacerbated by foreign interventions, demands immediate attention.
Ocalan urged all Turkish political parties to adopt a constructive and inclusive approach, highlighting the critical role of the Turkish parliament. He also expressed his willingness to contribute to a new political paradigm, suggesting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli could play pivotal roles in the process.
“The strengthening of Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood is not only a historical responsibility but a decisive need for all nations,” Ocalan stated, emphasizing the importance of cooperation beyond political divisions.
This meeting marks the first direct communication with Ocalan by pro-Kurdish lawmakers since the failed peace process in 2014. That initiative, which sought to end decades of conflict between Turkey and the PKK, collapsed, leading to heightened violence.
Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on Imrali Island since 1999, has had limited contact with the outside world. His last family visit was in October 2024, when his nephew, DEM Party lawmaker Omer Ocalan, met him for the first time since 2020.
In a surprising political shift, the Turkish government has recently softened its stance on Ocalan. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli proposed that Ocalan address the Turkish parliament to announce the PKK’s dissolution, signaling a potential turning point in relations.
The PKK, which initially sought an independent Kurdish state after its founding in 1978, now advocates for autonomy within Turkey. It remains classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
The DEM Party, successor to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), played a pivotal role in previous peace negotiations with Ocalan. The latest developments, including Ocalan’s impending letter to Qandil, have reignited hopes for a renewed dialogue and a path toward lasting peace in Turkey.