The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), an umbrella platform representing a broad range of Kurdish political parties, civil organisations, and personalities across the Kurdish regions and diaspora, has released an open letter calling on world leaders, institutions, and intellectuals to support a democratic transition in Turkey following the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The statement, issued from Brussels, outlines an urgent roadmap for peace in what it calls a “post-PKK era”.
The KNK’s letter comes in response to the 12th Congress of the PKK, held in early May, which announced the party’s dissolution and the end of its armed struggle. The move was taken following a political peace call issued by Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader, on 27 February. In its assessment, the PKK declared that it had fulfilled its historical mission of bringing the Kurdish issue onto the stage of political resolution and would now support democratic politics as the path forward.
“The decision of the PKK Congress offers a strong basis for lasting peace,” the KNK stated.
“In a time of intensifying global conflict and war, Mr. Öcalan’s insistence on peace and finding solutions through democratic means is both a source of hope and a call to action for all democratic, progressive political and social actors.”
A call for action: Key demands by the KNK
The KNK’s letter urges decisive steps at the national and international levels. Among its most critical demands:
– Immediate release of Abdullah Öcalan, recognising his role as the architect of the peace process and enabling him to freely participate in political life and public dialogue.
– Concrete political and legal reforms by the Turkish Parliament, including the recognition of Kurdish rights, equality among all peoples, and the enforcement of democratic principles.
– Implementation of the European Court of Human Rights’ 2014 decision in Öcalan v. Turkey, especially regarding the “right to hope” and the inhumane nature of life imprisonment without release.
– Removal of the PKK from terrorism lists maintained by the European Union and other states, which the KNK argues is inconsistent with the group’s recent dissolution and peace-focused orientation.
– Active diplomatic engagement by the EU and international community to encourage Turkey to participate honestly in the process, cease military operations, and commit to a credible, inclusive peace framework.
“The Grand National Assembly of Turkey must now take responsibility,” the KNK wrote, “and establish the legal and political mechanisms necessary for the peace process to succeed.”
KNK: A broad Kurdish consensus platform
Established in 1999 and headquartered in Brussels, the Kurdistan National Congress includes a wide range of Kurdish political organisations and respected figures from across the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, as well as the diaspora.
Despite that, the KNK is widely recognised as the most inclusive political platform in the Kurdish movement. Its latest appeal is seen as an effort to elevate the post-PKK moment into an international peace agenda—by engaging not just Turkish institutions, but also European states, UN bodies, and global peace advocates.
“This is a historic opportunity,” the KNK concluded.
“We call on international institutions, politicians, and civil society actors to rise to the occasion and help make peace in Turkey and Kurdistan a real and lasting possibility.”
The statement underscores that failure to act now may close a rare window for a political settlement to one of the longest-running conflicts in the Middle East. The message is clear: this is not the end of the Kurdish question, but the beginning of a new chapter in its democratic resolution.
The PKK’s decision to dissolve itself and pursue peace through non-violent means marks a historic shift after decades of armed insurgency. The KNK’s call seeks to reframe this moment from a domestic security issue to an international peace initiative. Abdullah Öcalan has been held in incommunicado detention on İmralı Island for nearly 26 years. His release remains a central demand of the Kurdish political movement.
