News Center- Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan has made another historic call in a video message published on Wednesday following his “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” on February 27, 2025. In the video message, the political prisoners imprisoned in the prison island of Imrali stood by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The message of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is as follows:

“Dear comrades,

Ethically, I feel duty-bound to provide, via an albeit repetitive and comprehensive letter, explanatory and creative responses for the problems, solutions, the achieved levels, and the concrete situation of our communalist camaraderie movement.

1.       I continue to defend the call for “Peace and Democratic Society”, [declared on] February 27, 2025.

2.       I consider your positive response to this issue, with its comprehensive and accurate content, at the 12th Dissolution Congress of the PKK, as a historic response.

3.       The current situation is highly valuable and historically significant. The efforts of the comrades who bridged this communication are equally valuable and praiseworthy.

4.       Following the recent developments, I drafted a “Manifesto for Democratic Society,” which has to be regarded as a historical transformation. This Manifesto has the necessary attributes to successfully substitute the 50-year-old Manifesto of “The Path to Kurdistan Revolution”. I believe that it has a historical and social substance not only for the historical Kurdish society but also for the regional and global society. I have no doubt that it epitomizes the historical tradition of manifestos.

5.       I should clearly state that all these developments have resulted from the meetings I have held in Imrali. The greatest care has been taken to ensure that the meetings are based on free will.

6.       The current stage requests new steps to be taken. Emphasizing, understanding the historical nature of this stage and the necessary steps and adhering to its requirements are essential to move forward.

a-       The PKK movement and its “National Liberation Strategy”, which emerged as a reaction to the denial of the existence [of the Kurds] and thus aimed at setting up a separate state, has been dissolved. The existence [of the Kurds] has been recognized; therefore, the basic aim has been achieved. This means it (armed struggle) has had its day. The rest has been regarded as excessive repetition and stalemate. This will constitute the basis for comprehensive critique and self-critique.

b-      Politics admits no vacuum; therefore, the vacuum should be filled with the program of “Democratic Society”, the strategy of “Democratic Politics” and the basic tactic of “holistic law”. What we refer to is a determining process characterized by historical significance.

c-       As a necessity of the process, it is important to voluntarily take the weapons away and to ensure the comprehensive activities of a legally authorized commission established in TBMM [Turkish Grand National Assembly]. While being wary of descending into illogical “you first, then me” approaches, the necessary step should inexorably be taken. I know that these steps will not go away. I see sincerity and have trust.

d-      Therefore, there are efforts to make breakthroughs via taking more practical steps. The following are the principal theses I suggest:

1.       A positive integrationist perspective would enable the Movement to shoulder its mantles and achieve its aim of “Peace and Democratic Society”. The aforementioned arguments take us to the following conclusion: the PKK has renounced its nation-statist aim; renouncing its basic aim implies renouncement of its military strategy and thus leads to its dissolution. This historical point awaits being taken to a further level.

2.       You should take it in your stride that your ensuring of the laying down of arms, before the witnesses of the public and related circles, would not only count with the TBMM [Turkish Grand National Assembly] and the Commission, but also reassure the public and honor our promises. The establishment of a mechanism to lay down the arms will take the process forward. What has been done is a voluntary transition from the phase of Armed Struggle to the phase of Democratic Politics and Law. This is not a loss, but has to be regarded as a historical gain. The details of the laying down of the arms will be specified and expeditiously implemented.

3.       DEM (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party), which is under the umbrella of the parliament, will do its share and will work with other parties to ensure the success of the process.

4.       As for “My Freedom Situation”, which you have put forward as an indispensable provision in your (12th) Congress’s resolution texts, I should say that I have never regarded my freedom as a personal issue. Philosophically, the freedom of the individual cannot be abstracted from the [freedom of] society. The freedom of the individual is a measure of the freedom of society; and the freedom of society is a measure of the freedom of the individual. The necessities of the inclination will be observed.

I believe not in the arms, but in the power of politics and social peace and call on you to put this principle into practice.

The latest developments in the region have clearly proved the importance and urgency of this historical step.

I should state that I am looking forward to receiving all kinds of criticisms, suggestions and contributions you can make about the process.

I state, ambitiously and vehemently, that these discussions will take us, the forces of Democratic Modernity, to a new theoretical program, to a new strategic and tactical phase at the national, regional and global level, and I express my optimism and readiness for preparatory efforts.

As to the future stages, I call on you to embark on putting into practice the resolutions of the (12th) Congress, in line with the views and suggestions of this last letter, and to ensure successful progress.

Take care with permanent comradely greetings and love.

Abdullah Öcalan

June 19, 2025”