Overview
- Abdullah Öcalan, the 75-year-old founder of the PKK, issued a historic call for the group to disband and abandon armed struggle after four decades of conflict with the Turkish state.
- Öcalan's message, read by Kurdish lawmakers in Istanbul, emphasized his desire to transition the Kurdish movement from violence to political and legal engagement.
- The Turkish government has recently eased Öcalan's isolation after 26 years of imprisonment, facilitating communication with Kurdish representatives.
- While Öcalan's call has sparked celebrations in Kurdish-majority regions, uncertainty remains about how PKK fighters, particularly those in northern Iraq, will respond.
- The Turkish government continues to target PKK-affiliated individuals and groups, maintaining pressure on Kurdish political movements and activists.