Peregraf
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) concluded its 12th Congress in the Medya Defense Areas between May 5–7, with the event overshadowed by a groundbreaking message from the group’s imprisoned founder, Abdullah Öcalan, calling for the complete disarmament and dissolution of the organization.
According to the statement from the Congress Board, the congress was held in two locations simultaneously, with representation from all operational sectors of the group. The statement emphasized that the congress convened in direct response to Öcalan’s message, which was read, discussed, and evaluated in depth.
The Congress Board said the PKK had made "decisions of historical importance" based on Öcalan’s message, though it stopped short of announcing a formal disbandment. It pledged to share full documentation and results once discussions from the two congress sites are fully compiled.
Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on İmralı Island since 1999, issued the historic appeal on February 27, 2025, through a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party. His message called on the PKK to end its armed struggle, disband the organization, and fully embrace a peaceful, democratic path.
“The second century of the Republic can only be crowned with democracy. There is no alternative,” Öcalan said, arguing that continued armed conflict would no longer serve the Kurdish cause. He emphasized that dissolving the PKK was now a strategic necessity for achieving long-term peace and democratic reform in Turkey.
Held The Congress during what the group calls the “Month of Martyrs,” the congress paid tribute to the movement’s 52-year legacy and honored key figures, including Haki Karer, the PKK’s first fallen member, and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a veteran Kurdish figure remembered for his contribution to the congress and his close ties with Öcalan.
The congress also renewed its appeal to Kurdish communities, democratic forces, and the international public to embrace the values of peace, dignity, and justice — principles Öcalan emphasized in his call for ending armed conflict.
“We call on our patriotic people and democratic friends to increase the struggle for the physical freedom of Leader Apo (Öcalan), while also upholding his vision for peace,” the statement read.
If implemented, Öcalan’s call could mark a turning point in the Kurdish struggle in Turkey — ending decades of conflict and opening a new chapter based on political engagement and democratic dialogue.