A newly resurfaced 1993 interview with Abdullah Öcalan, conducted by exiled journalist Can Dündar, has reignited discussions on Turkey’s long-standing Kurdish issue and the state’s handling of past reconciliation efforts.
The interview, recorded on 17 March 1993 during a ceasefire period brokered by President Turgut Özal, captures Öcalan’s early calls for political transformation in Turkey’s political system. With new debates on a possible reconciliation process emerging, the footage serves as a reminder of how little has changed in the official discourse surrounding the Kurdish question.
The video was found and shared by Kurdish journalist Amed Dicle on his X account, bringing renewed attention to Öcalan’s past statements in light of ongoing discussions about a potential new reconciliation process.
In the interview, Dündar asked Öcalan whether he could imagine himself leading a legal political party in Turkey or even serving in parliament.
“It is difficult under the existing political laws and the structure of this parliament. But if a federal parliament were to be developed, if political party laws were to be amended, and if legal arrangements were made for broader participation, then it would be a clear issue.”
“Rather than returning to Turkey, it is necessary to talk about transforming Turkey. Then we can all have a place in a changing Turkey.”
Öcalan’s words bear a striking resemblance to discussions happening in Turkey today, where political actors—including far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli—have acknowledged the necessity of dialogue regarding the Kurdish question.
Since October 2023, discussions on a new reconciliation process have gained momentum, with three visits made to Öcalan so far. The first took place in October, when his nephew, an MP, visited him. This was followed by two separate visits from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party delegations in December and January. A new visit is expected soon, during which Öcalan is anticipated to make a historic call for Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood and the establishment of a new, democratic, and pluralist Turkey where all citizens’ rights, including those of the Kurds, would be recognised.
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Despite significant contradictions between the rhetoric of reconciliation and the ongoing repressive policies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) towards Kurdish politics and broader opposition in Turkey, there remains strong hope that Öcalan could play a key role in leading a transition away from the authoritarianism of the past decade towards a more democratic system.
Öcalan’s imprisonment and the way his role has been framed by the Turkish state sharply contrast with the global perception of other prominent figures in liberation struggles, such as Nelson Mandela. Mandela spent 27 years in prison but later emerged as a globally recognised statesman. His transformation from a “terrorist” to a Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader is celebrated as a pivotal moment in South African history.
Since his capture in 1999, Abdullah Öcalan has been imprisoned on İmralı Island, a high-security facility in the Sea of Marmara. For over 26 years, he has been held in complete isolation, with his legal team and family largely denied access for almost four years. International human rights organisations and legal experts have consistently raised concerns about his incommunicado detention, which has prevented him from engaging in any political discussions about the Kurdish issue. His legal status remains one of the most contested elements of Turkey’s approach to resolving the decades-long conflict.
Despite repeated calls from legal experts and human rights organisations, Turkey continues to severely restrict his communication with the outside world—a level of confinement even more extreme than what Mandela endured on Robben Island.
While Mandela’s leadership and the struggle for the end of apartheid were gradually acknowledged and legitimised on the international stage, Öcalan has remained one of the most politically controversial figures in Turkey, where even discussions around his role in the Kurdish question are heavily censored or criminalised.
Yet, for millions of Kurdish people, Öcalan remains the central figure in their movement, and his theoretical writings on democratic confederalism continue to shape Kurdish political structures across the region.
The ceasefire declared by Öcalan in 1993 was seen as a potential turning point, yet despite Özal’s efforts, the Turkish state never formally recognised the truce. Within months, the ceasefire collapsed, and the conflict escalated further following Özal’s sudden death in April 1993, also added to speculation that Turkey’s deep state was unwilling to allow peace talks to proceed.
The resurfaced interview by Can Dündar has renewed scrutiny of Turkey’s historical reluctance to engage in meaningful peace efforts, raising the question of whether the failure to recognise Öcalan’s 1993 initiative contributed to decades of further bloodshed.
The interview also marked a symbolic moment in Öcalan’s public image. For the first time, he appeared in civilian clothing—a suit and tie—rather than military fatigues, as a gesture towards political dialogue rather than armed struggle.
When Dündar asked how he felt about dressing formally, Öcalan responded:
“I had even forgotten how to dress like this. If I were to show off in military uniform here, I think it would not be well received by the public during the eve of upcoming festivals.”
His words highlighted a conscious shift in approach, yet the Turkish state’s unwillingness to engage with his political proposals ensured that this shift did not lead to formal negotiations.
The resurfacing of the interview has also drawn renewed attention to Dündar’s case. The journalist, who at the time worked for 32. Gün, a rare example of press freedom in Turkey, anchored by Mehmet Ali Birand, is now in exile in Germany, having been convicted in Turkey for “revealing state secrets”.
Dündar’s reporting in 2015 on Turkish intelligence (MIT) trucks delivering weapons to armed groups in Syria led to his prosecution. He was accused of exposing state-backed arms shipments to jihadist groups. His case has become one of Turkey’s most prominent examples of press suppression, with press freedom advocates globally calling for his acquittal.
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Dündar commented on the resurfaced video via his Instagram account, further adding to the public discourse around Öcalan’s historical role in peace efforts.
