PKK leader Öcalan reportedly calls for group’s disbandment

Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has reportedly urged his followers to lay down their arms and dissolve the organization. According to Turkish media reports on Thursday, Öcalan made this appeal in a letter from prison, signaling a possible shift in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict.

Öcalan’s statement, calling for all armed groups to disarm and for the PKK to disband, marks a significant development in the decades-long conflict.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and several international bodies, has waged an armed struggle against the Turkish state for over 40 years, initially seeking greater Kurdish rights and later advocating for regional autonomy.

Reports suggest Öcalan’s appeal comes amid pressure from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government. While the move could open new avenues for peace, it remains uncertain whether all PKK factions will comply, given the long-standing tensions between both sides.