The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) has reaffirmed Abdullah Öcalan’s central role in resolving the Kurdish question, calling for an end to his isolation and condemning recent Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish regions. “Progress cannot be expected until Öcalan’s isolation is fully lifted,” the KCK stated on Thursday, emphasising that his health, safety, and working conditions must be ensured for peace to advance.
In an interview with BBC Turkish, Zübeyir Aydar, a member of the KCK Executive Council, expressed support for Öcalan’s message, which was conveyed by Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party MP Ömer Öcalan. “We support the message. As a movement, we will contribute at all levels for a political solution,” Aydar said, indicating the KCK’s commitment to dialogue.
Aydar highlighted that the conditions are suitable for a new peace process, describing the recent handshake between the key government ally and far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and DEM Party MPs as a potential opening. “We view these developments with interest. If there is sincerity from the other side, then Öcalan should be granted the health, safety, and freedom needed to participate,” Aydar added. He clarified that, despite Bahçeli’s gesture, no formal communication has yet been received from Turkish state officials.
In addition to addressing the political discourse, the KCK condemned Turkey’s recent airstrikes on Kurdish regions, including Rojava and Sinjar, labelling them “genocidal attacks” that targeted civilian infrastructure. The Turkish airstrikes came shortly after an attack at Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara on 23 October, which left several dead and injured. While the KCK does not directly link the two events, the strikes targeting civilian areas and infrastructure in Rojava and Sinjar appear to be a misplaced response to the Ankara attack, raising concerns about their justification and the broader implications for peace efforts. “These strikes are entirely disconnected from the peace process, and their reckless nature undermines any serious efforts for dialogue,” the KCK stated, highlighting the destruction of civilian homes, hospitals, and essential services in the region.
Aydar commented on the Ankara attack, noting that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) military wing, the People’s Defence Forces (HPG), has yet to release an official statement and that he would refrain from speculating. However, he insisted that the incident should not hinder dialogue, citing previous peace processes that continued despite similar challenges. “If there is genuine intention for a solution, a single attack should not derail the process,” Aydar said, referencing incidents during the 2013 peace process, which persisted despite provocations.
Aydar concluded by underscoring the importance of sincerity from the Turkish government, adding that any potential peace process must include Abdullah Öcalan’s active participation and address his isolation. “We remain ready to support a political solution at every level, but there must be genuine commitment from all sides,” Aydar stated.
