PKK Responds to Ocalan’s Call, Announces Ceasefire

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has declared a ceasefire in response to the message from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, emphasizing that it will not engage in any military activities unless attacked. The group also made the release of Ocalan a condition for holding a congress to dissolve itself.

In a statement published by PKK-affiliated media outlets, the group described Ocalan’s message, issued on Feb. 27, 2025, as a "historic manifesto" that "provides a clear roadmap for all forces advocating freedom and democracy." The statement stressed the necessity of implementing the message’s core principles, urging all involved parties to fulfill their responsibilities.

The PKK reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to the content of Ocalan’s call, stating: "We fully comply with the core of the appeal and will work toward its implementation. However, for the process to succeed, democratic political conditions and legal frameworks must be ensured."

The Party also announced its readiness to hold a congress, but with a key condition: "We are prepared to convene a congress, but for this goal to be realized, appropriate conditions must be established. The congress can only be successful if Abdullah Ocalan himself leads it."

Ocalan’s Message and Political Reactions

On Thursday, February 27, the İmrali delegation, after meeting with Abdullah Ocalan in his prison on İmrali Island, publicly read his statement in both Kurdish and Turkish during a press conference.

Ahmet Turk, the dismissed mayor of Mardin, delivered Ocalan’s message, reiterating that the PKK was originally founded when the path to democracy was obstructed. He emphasized that "peace and democracy should now take precedence."

Ocalan’s message called for the complete disarmament and dissolution of the PKK, stating: "The PKK must lay down its arms, hold a congress, and dissolve itself." He further affirmed his personal responsibility in ensuring the success of this process, guaranteeing peace negotiations.

Read More: Abdulla Ocalan calls for the disarmament of PKK

The announcement has sparked discussions about the future of the PKK and the broader implications for the region, with attention now shifting to whether the necessary political conditions for the proposed congress will be met.