PKK demands improved prison conditions for Ocalan before Turkey peace talks
Kurdish group calls Abdullah Ocalan the key to future negotiations following its decision to disband.
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| A demonstrator holds a poster of Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the Kurdish armed group Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on March 21, 2025. Photo by Mehmet Masum Suer/SOPA Images |
By Clarisa Sendy and Anna Fadiah
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), long designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, has called on Ankara to ease the harsh imprisonment of its founder, Abdullah Ocalan, identifying him as the group’s “chief negotiator” in any future peace talks. This demand follows the group’s historic decision to end its decades-long armed insurgency and dissolve its military operations, offering a potential path toward peace after over 40 years of conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
In a written interview with AFP on May 13, PKK spokesperson Zagros Hiwa declared that the group is taking significant steps to give peace a genuine opportunity—starting with the cessation of armed struggle and culminating in a formal decision to disband. The move stems from an appeal by Ocalan, delivered via a rare letter from his solitary confinement cell on Imrali Island, where he has been imprisoned since 1999.
Turkey peace talks echoes throughout the PKK’s new direction and underscores the group’s insistence that any negotiations with the Turkish government must involve Ocalan directly.
Ocalan at the center of future dialogue
Hiwa emphasized that “Leader Apo”—the nickname used for Ocalan by his supporters—must be granted conditions that allow him to safely and freely participate in negotiations. “We expect that the Turkish state makes amendments in the solitary confinement conditions of Abdullah Ocalan,” Hiwa said. “Leader Apo is our chief negotiator.”
Despite the PKK’s sweeping internal changes and public gestures of goodwill, Hiwa stated that the Turkish government has not yet offered the guarantees necessary for initiating a peace process. “Until now, the Turkish state has not given any guarantees and taken any measure for facilitating the process,” he said. “They continue with bombardments and artillery shellings.”
A long conflict with deep roots
Founded in the late 1970s, the PKK began its armed campaign against the Turkish state in 1984, demanding greater autonomy and cultural rights for the Kurdish population. Over the years, the conflict evolved into a multifaceted struggle, deeply impacting not only Turkey but also Iraq and Syria, where the group has maintained strongholds and ideological influence.
The Turkish military has launched repeated cross-border operations into northern Iraq, targeting PKK bases in the mountainous Kurdistan region. Turkey currently maintains numerous military installations in Iraqi territory to combat what it perceives as an ongoing PKK threat.
As recently as last week, the Turkish Armed Forces stated it would continue its operations until it could be "certain" that all threats from the PKK were neutralized. These aggressive postures raise doubts about Ankara’s willingness to embrace the PKK’s peaceful overture.
A cautious government and an uncertain road
While the PKK has unilaterally ended its insurgency, the Turkish government has not yet reciprocated with formal negotiations. Hiwa confirmed that while there are ongoing "contacts and dialogues" occurring within the confines of Imrali prison, no official peace process has been launched.
The group has expressed skepticism over Turkey’s stance toward the return and integration of former PKK members. Turkish media have speculated that low-ranking militants without criminal charges might be allowed to return home, while leaders could face exile or imprisonment.
Hiwa dismissed the idea of exile as incompatible with genuine peace. “Real peace requires integration, not exile,” he said. “If the Turkish state is sincere and serious about making peace, it should make the necessary legal amendments so that PKK members would be integrated into a democratic society.”
Kurdish identity and regional complexities
The Kurdish people, who number in the millions, are spread across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. In all four countries, Kurdish communities have long sought greater autonomy or outright independence. In Turkey, Kurds make up roughly 20 percent of the population but have historically been denied linguistic and political rights.
Elsewhere in the region, Kurds have seen varying degrees of autonomy. Iraq’s Kurdistan Region operates as a semi-autonomous federal entity, while Syria’s Kurdish-led administration controls large areas of the country’s northeast.
The ongoing Syrian conflict adds another layer of complexity. Turkey views the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—a US-backed group that includes many Kurdish fighters—as an extension of the PKK. Despite this, Hiwa clarified that the PKK’s dissolution and potential Turkey peace talks are an independent process. “We don’t intervene in the matters regarding the SDF,” he said. “No other party is involved.”
Still, he acknowledged that any successful resolution between the PKK and Turkey could positively influence Kurdish efforts in neighboring countries: “The present process will surely have positive implications for the solution of the Kurdish question in other parts of Kurdistan.”
A difficult path toward reconciliation
Although the PKK has disbanded its armed wing and opened the door for peaceful dialogue, Ankara's response remains cautious and militarized. The absence of trust, historical grievances, and legal obstacles—such as the Turkish law that criminalizes engagement with "terrorist" groups—complicate the process.
Ocalan, who played a central role in a short-lived peace process between 2013 and 2015, is again being positioned by the PKK as the only legitimate figure capable of leading reconciliation efforts. The previous peace process failed largely due to mutual distrust and shifting political winds in Ankara, but the PKK hopes this time will be different.
However, the Turkish government’s willingness to allow Ocalan to take part remains uncertain. Since 1999, he has been held in near-total isolation, with limited access to legal counsel or communication with the outside world. Easing these restrictions would be a significant step for Ankara—and a political gamble.
A pivotal moment for Turkey peace talks
The PKK’s dissolution represents a dramatic shift in Turkey’s long-running conflict with Kurdish insurgents. By naming Abdullah Ocalan as the chief negotiator and demanding improved prison conditions for him, the PKK has placed the ball firmly in Ankara’s court.
Whether Turkey seizes this opportunity for peace remains to be seen. With the right steps—starting with easing Ocalan’s confinement and committing to legal reforms—Turkey could begin a new chapter in its complex relationship with the Kurdish people.
For now, all eyes are on Imrali Island, where the path to future Turkey peace talks may begin, once again, behind prison walls.
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