4th Week of February: Peace with an Iron Fist
The last week of February witnessed rapid developments in Turkey, marked by the regime’s new oppressive policies. Abdullah Öcalan, together with the DEM Party delegation that visited him in İmralı, made a long-anticipated call for the dissolution of the PKK. Öcalan also shared an additional note—omitted from the official statement—through DEM Party MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder, emphasizing that democratization and political regulations must accompany this process.
Public opinion and opposition were divided over the objectives of this move by the increasingly authoritarian regime. Some interpreted this initiative as an inevitable result of escalating security concerns, including Israel’s expanding aggression in the region, the possibility of the Syrian Democratic Forces becoming neighbors with a Druze-controlled area known as the “David Corridor” in southern Syria, and the risk that, after Syria, Iran might be next in line.
However, those who evaluated Erdoğan’s past political openings, his increasingly nationalist rhetoric, and his ambition for power argued that the primary goal was to pave the way for Erdoğan’s lifelong presidency through a constitutional amendment that would transform Turkey’s regime into one resembling those of the Central Asian Turkic republics.
While the PKK responded immediately to Öcalan’s call by declaring a ceasefire, DEM Party MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder claimed that this process would be concluded by early July at the latest. Currently, the public does not have clear information about the scope of these negotiations, which are being conducted through Abdullah Öcalan by a delegation that reportedly includes members of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and high-ranking judicial officials.
Turkey ended February with the following developments:
An indictment seeking up to 4 years and 8 months in prison, along with a political ban for Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, on charges of “insulting the President,” was referred to Antalya due to a ruling of lack of jurisdiction. Özdağ was already in custody for allegedly “inciting hatred and hostility among the public.”
While conducting negotiations with Öcalan, the regime continued intervening in democratically elected officials. DEM Party’s Kağızman Municipality Mayor Mehmet Alkan was removed from office, and District Governor Okan Daştan was appointed as trustee.
Since June 5, 2024, trustees have been appointed to the following municipalities: DEM Party-led Hakkari (June 5), CHP-led Esenyurt (October 31), DEM Party-led Mardin, Batman, and Halfeti (November 4), DEM Party-led Tunceli and CHP-led Ovacık (November 22), DEM Party-led Bahçesaray (November 29), DEM Party-led Mersin Akdeniz (January 13, 2025), DEM Party-led Siirt (January 29), DEM Party-led Van Metropolitan Municipality (February 15), and most recently, Kağızman Municipality (February 24). With these, the total number of municipalities taken over by state-appointed trustees after the March 31 elections reached twelve.
On February 24, police carried out simultaneous morning raids on numerous homes as part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. At least 15 people, including members of the Istanbul Free Student Assembly (İSÖM), were taken into custody.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s allegedly irregular university transfer. The Prosecutor’s Office sent a letter to the Rectorate of Istanbul University requesting the launch of an administrative investigation into the matter. The letter also demanded all documents related to İmamoğlu’s education, the identification of individuals responsible for approving his transfer, and information on whether similar transfers were made during the same period. (February 26)
Through Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, appointed by Erdoğan, efforts to shape politics intensified. Istanbul Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler was detained on charges of “rigging public tenders” as part of an investigation that saw 21 people taken into custody. Police also searched Beykoz Municipality offices. Arrest and detention warrants were issued for 17 individuals on charges of “forming a criminal organization for tender fraud.” (February 27)
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli had previously called for the PKK’s disbandment. Following this, Abdullah Öcalan issued the long-awaited statement, declaring that the PKK should dissolve itself and that all affiliated groups should lay down arms.
While the PKK responded immediately to Öcalan’s call by declaring a ceasefire, DEM Party MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder claimed that this process would be concluded by early July at the latest. Currently, the public does not have clear information about the scope of these negotiations, which are being conducted through Abdullah Öcalan by a delegation that reportedly includes members of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and high-ranking judicial officials.
A DEM Party delegation consisting of Ahmet Türk, the dismissed Mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality; DEM Party Van MP Pervin Buldan; DEM Party Istanbul MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Cengiz Çiçek; DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan; and Öcalan’s lawyer Faik Özgür Erol met with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island. Immediately after the meeting, the delegation traveled to Istanbul and, at 5:00 PM, held a press conference in a hotel in Taksim, where they read Öcalan’s statement titled “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society.” Ahmet Türk read the three-page statement in Kurdish, while Pervin Buldan read it in Turkish. The press conference saw a large turnout, but no questions were taken after the statement was read.
Öcalan’s Statement:
“The PKK emerged in the 20th century, the most violent century in history, shaped by two world wars, real socialism, the Cold War atmosphere, and the denial of Kurdish identity, as well as broad restrictions on freedoms. It was heavily influenced in its theory, program, strategy, and tactics by the real socialist system of that century. With the collapse of real socialism in the 1990s due to internal reasons and the breaking of identity denial in the country, as well as improvements in freedom of expression, the PKK lost its meaning and fell into excessive repetition. Consequently, like similar organizations, its time has come to an end, making its dissolution necessary.
Turkish-Kurdish relations: For over a thousand years, Turks and Kurds have seen it as essential to remain in an alliance based on voluntary cooperation to survive and resist hegemonic powers. The last 200 years of capitalist modernity have aimed to dismantle this alliance. The forces affected by this have, along with class-based influences, prioritized serving this goal.
This process accelerated with the Republic’s homogenizing interpretations. Today, the historical relationship, now fragile, must be restructured in the spirit of brotherhood, taking beliefs into account. The need for a democratic society is inevitable. The PKK, the longest and most comprehensive rebellion and violent movement in the history of the Republic, found strength and support due to the closure of democratic political channels. The inevitable consequence of its excessive nationalist shift—separate nation-state, federation, administrative autonomy, and culturalist solutions—fails to address the historical sociological structure of society.
Respect for identities, their free expression, and their democratic organization, as well as the ability of all groups to establish socio-economic and political structures based on their own principles, is only possible through a democratic society and political sphere. The second century of the Republic can only be crowned with democracy, ensuring lasting and fraternal continuity. There is no path outside democracy for system-building and implementation. There cannot be. Democratic reconciliation is the fundamental method. The language of the period of peace and democratic society must be developed in accordance with this reality.
With the call made by Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, the will demonstrated by the President, and the positive responses from other political parties to the known appeal, I take on the historic responsibility of calling for disarmament. As in every contemporary society and party that has not been forcibly ended, gather your congress and make a decision for integration with the state and society; all groups must disarm, and the PKK must dissolve itself. I send my greetings to all those who believe in coexistence and heed my call.”
Presidential Legal Advisor Mehmet Uçum commented on Öcalan’s call for disarmament, stating on social media: “The internal Kurdish issue has been resolved.”
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leader Mazloum Abdi participated via the internet in a conference held in Washington, D.C., where he evaluated Öcalan’s call. Abdi stated that Öcalan’s remarks were not related to the Kurds in Syria but were directed at Turkey’s domestic politics.
White House National Security Council Spokesperson Brian Hughes described the development as “important” and expressed hope that it would help reassure Turkish allies regarding U.S. partnerships in northeastern Syria in the fight against ISIS. “We believe this development will contribute to bringing peace to the troubled region,” Hughes said.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call as “a beacon of hope for achieving peace.” (February 27)
The PKK issued a statement announcing that it would comply with Abdullah Öcalan’s call and declared a ceasefire. (March 1)
