In brief
Abdullah Ocalan, a significant figure in the Kurdish struggle, announces the end of the P.K.K.'s armed insurgency against Turkey, advocating for a peaceful political approach in a rare publicly released video.
In a historic announcement, Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (P.K.K.) has declared an end to the group's armed insurgency against the Turkish state. This momentous statement was delivered in a video released on July 9, 2025, marking the first instance in 25 years since any footage of Ocalan has been made public. He emphasized that the transition from arms to a political struggle is not a defeat but a significant advancement for the Kurdish cause. Ocalan's declaration aligns with earlier written appeals made in February, urging P.K.K. fighters to lay down their arms, signaling a notable shift from decades of guerrilla warfare that began in the 1980s in pursuit of Kurdish rights. The armed conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, predominantly civilians, amid accusations of terrorism directed at the P.K.K. by Turkey, the U.S., and the E.U.This recent video encouragement may act as a catalyst for the already underway peace process, which has seen gradual developments since Ocalan's initial disarmament suggestion. Following a congress in May where P.K.K. leaders agreed to disband the organization, a ceremonial event is scheduled to see some P.K.K. fighters destroy their weapons in northern Iraq. Ocalan maintains that the shift towards democratic politics and legal frameworks should be embraced as a substantial victory for the Kurdish movement and its supporters.
