Abdullah Öcalan Calls for PKK to Disband, Urging Political Path Forward

The imprisoned Kurdish leader's appeal to end the PKK's armed conflict raises hopes for peace while sparking mixed reactions among Kurds and international observers.

Abdullah Öcalan, founder of the PKK, has urged the group to cease its armed struggle and dissolve, emphasizing political means to achieve Kurdish rights in Turkey.
This unprecedented call is seen as a potential turning point for Kurdish-Turkish relations, contingent on the Turkish government's response and willingness to engage constructively.
Reactions from Kurds vary widely, with some expressing hope for peace and others voicing disappointment over the lack of concessions from Turkey in exchange for disarmament.
In Germany, Kurdish community leaders have welcomed the move as an opportunity for progress but stress the need to end the criminalization of Kurdish political activism in Europe.
The PKK has yet to officially respond to Öcalan's appeal, leaving uncertainty about whether the group will comply and what this could mean for Kurdish movements in Syria and beyond.