US EditionOcalan: founder of the Kurdish militant PKK who authored its end
- On Monday, the PKK declared the cessation of its armed conflict and announced its dissolution, following a historic directive from its imprisoned founder Abdullah Ocalan to surrender weapons.
- The move came after decades of insurgency between the PKK and Turkey, marked by tens of thousands of deaths and ongoing tension rooted in Kurdish statelessness since the Ottoman Empire's collapse.
- Ocalan, a 76-year-old former guerrilla held in solitary confinement on Imrali prison island near Istanbul, issued the call on February 27 and has received recent visits from pro-Kurdish lawmakers amid tentative Turkish moves to reset ties with the PKK.
- The PKK, considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington, and Brussels, was urged to renounce violence by nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, ally of President Erdogan, who offered an olive branch to Ocalan.
- This development may signal a potential shift from armed conflict to political dialogue in the long-standing Kurdish issue, although challenges remain given deep divisions in Turkish society and failed peace efforts in the past.
46 Articles
46 Articles
My first commander: Comrade Mizgîn’s voice still echoes through the mountains
When I began my journey in the struggle, I was a young person in search of meaning, burdened with a deep sense of responsibility. My first commander was Comrade Mizgîn. At the time, she was the commander of the Mardin (Mêrdîn) Province and used the nom de guerre Şîlan. She had just arrived from the area where Abdullah Öcalan was. Her knowledge, discipline, and strong presence left a deep impression on us, the young fighters. Meeting her marked a…
Turkish military strikes intensify two months into ceasefire
It has been over two months since the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan called for peace and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared a unilateral ceasefire. Yet Turkish military activity has surged. In April, bombardments and attacks by the Turkish Armed Forces increased by 78% compared to the previous month—reaching levels similar to those seen prior to the ceasefire. Since 1 April, at least 210 bombardments and helicopter assaults have…
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