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Ocalan Calls for Peace Laws as Turkish Panel Advances Reform Roadmap

Ocalan urges legislation to anchor Kurdish disarmament toward democratic integration.

FILE - Youngsters hold a photograph of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the militant Kurdish group, or PKK, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Metin Yoksu, File)
Jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan still commands great respect within the Kurdish community
The pro-Kurdish DEM party released a new photo of the jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, in which he appeared to look thinner

Overview

  • In a statement read by a DEM lawmaker, the jailed PKK founder said the transition to democratic integration requires “laws of peace.”
  • A cross-party parliamentary commission last week endorsed a roadmap urging legal changes to accompany disarmament and potential reintegration.
  • DEM leaders pressed Ankara for swift action on language, cultural and religious freedoms and sought clarity on Ocalan’s legal status.
  • Over the past year, the PKK halted fighting, held a symbolic arms-burning ceremony and announced the withdrawal of militants from Turkish soil.
  • A militant source welcomed parliament’s move yet warned implementation remains unclear, and AFP reported the legal package is likely to reach parliament after Ramadan.