Cemil Bayık, co-chair of the Kurdistan Democratic Communities Union (KCK), said in an interview with Sterk TV that the “international conspiracy” that led to the abduction and imprisonment of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in 1999 has lost its effectiveness due to evolving regional dynamics and the resilience of the Kurdish people.
Speaking on the 26th anniversary of Öcalan’s illegal abduction, Bayık assessed the broader political landscape, linking recent developments to the reconciliation process initiated last October. He confirmed that the KCK had been closely following the situation through the Turkish press and had recently received direct communication from Öcalan regarding the process.
“We were following the developments through the Turkish press, trying to understand the situation. Then, we received a letter from Reber Apo [Öcalan]. Recently, we have also obtained information about the process that he initiated,” Bayık said.
Öcalan, the founder and ideological leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has been held in isolation on İmralı Island prison in Turkey since his arrest. Bayık stated that Öcalan’s recent messages indicate an effort to build upon and deepen his past initiatives, seeking to transition the Kurdish issue from a conflict-based struggle to a democratic resolution.
“He aims to further develop and deepen the leap he previously started. His goal is to transform the violent dynamics of the Kurdish issue into democratic ones. With this perspective, he continues his work,” Bayık noted.
According to Bayık, Öcalan’s latest statements have generated significant discussion within Turkey’s democratic and socialist circles, fostering optimism about potential progress. “His statements and explanations regarding these efforts have positively influenced democratic and socialist circles in Turkey, creating a sense of excitement that we have observed. We, too, have been positively affected by his statements, feeling happiness and joy,” he said.
Bayık emphasised the need for broad support for Öcalan’s initiative, arguing that the Kurdish leader’s efforts require collective backing to succeed. “At a time when Reber Apo has taken this initiative and is striving for success for the peoples, it is essential that everyone supports him,” he added.
Öcalan has been in absolute isolation since 2019, with no confirmed contact with his lawyers or family with exception of three visits since last year’s October. His prolonged incommunicado detention has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and European institutions, who have repeatedly called on Turkey to allow legal access and improve prison conditions.
The KCK’s remarks suggest an attempt to revive political dialogue, although the broader political and security context of ruling AKP government remains uncertain.
