Sabri Ok, a member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), spoke in an interview with Kurdish channel Stêrk TV about the significant impact of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s resistance on the Middle East’s political landscape. He highlighted how Öcalan’s efforts have reshaped regional dynamics and referenced the visit to İmralı by a Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party delegation, including Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan.
Ok emphasised Öcalan’s dedication to democratisation and dialogue-driven solutions since 1993, stating:
“[Öcalan] declared a ceasefire six or seven times. He wanted the solution process to develop during the Turgut Ozal period and afterwards as well. Unfortunately, all these efforts and searches of Rêber Apo were ignored by the occupationist mentality in the Turkish state that even denied the existence of the Kurdish people. Today, the war has worsened, and the reason for this is the Turkish state. The pro-war, chauvinist, and fascist forces prevail in the Turkish state. The state was founded based on them, based on the denial and annihilation of the Kurdish people. They prevented Rêber Apo’s efforts from reaching their goal.”
Reflecting on the Turkish government’s failure to uphold prior peace initiatives, including the 2013-2015 process, Ok added:
“Some discussions are going on, but no one is able to give this situation a name, whether it is a new form of a process or not. It is not even clear in what format the talks with Rêber Apo are being held. What is important here is that for years Rêber Apo has seen himself responsible for the future of the Kurdish people and the society in Turkey. He insisted on a democratic solution to the question and always pointed out that he was looking for an interlocutor.”
Ok stressed the importance of Öcalan’s messages for fostering mutual understanding between Kurds and Turks and stated:
“[Öcalan] has been saying for years that he is ready to take responsibility for the democratization of Turkey and the solution of the Kurdish question. He already stated what needs to be done for this. The important thing is for everyone to handle his messages correctly and fulfill their responsibilities. The leadership of our movement, the co-presidency of the KCK Executive Council, had given a statement quite recently in this regard. The position of our movement and our people is clear, without a doubt; for us, the interlocutor is always Rêber Apo. Of course, the struggle for Rêber Apo to fulfill his historical role in a more comfortable and better way will always be increased. This is important.”
Addressing the severe human and economic toll of the ongoing conflict, Ok noted that 50,000 lives were lost in Kurdistan and Turkey within a year, and $3 trillion has been spent on the war. He reiterated that Öcalan’s vision for democratisation remains vital, asserting that true democratisation in the Middle East cannot be achieved without resolving the Kurdish issue.
In conclusion, Ok underscored the critical importance of Öcalan’s physical liberation, calling it their primary strategic objective for 2025. He emphasised the necessity of seizing every opportunity to secure Öcalan’s freedom and advance the cause of democracy and peace in the region.
