Sabri Ok, a senior figure in the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and a key player in past peace efforts between Turkey and the Kurds, has strongly criticised the Turkish government’s contradictory stance on potential reconciliation with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Speaking on Stêrk TV, Ok recalled that Öcalan had long sought a democratic and political resolution to the Kurdish question. He compared the current developments to the 2013 peace process, during which Öcalan warned that unless there was a legal framework, any process could be dismantled.
“Ömer Çelik says ‘no negotiation, no deals’. Then what is there? Just ‘The PKK must lay down arms, Öcalan must call for disarmament’ – but without addressing his [Öcalan’s] isolation, without creating conditions for genuine dialogue, no steps can be taken.”
Sabri Ok’s remarks come as discussions about a so-called reconciliation process continue, following two visits by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party delegation to İmralı Prison, where Öcalan has been held in incommunicado detention for almost the last four years of his detention of 25 years and counting. However, Turkish government officials, including Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), have denied that any negotiations are taking place.
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Ok argued that the AKP’s approach is superficial and fails to acknowledge the gravity of the Kurdish question. He stressed that the problem extends beyond Turkey, affecting the broader region:
“The Kurdish issue is not just Turkey’s internal matter. The cost of its denial has been heavy – not only for Kurds but for Turkey itself. The country faces political, economic and social crises because of this unresolved issue.”
The veteran Kurdish politician also highlighted Turkey’s ongoing military operations against Kurdish-controlled regions in North and East Syria, particularly the recent attacks on the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam. He pointed out that Ankara’s hostile stance towards Rojava [Kurdish northern Syria] contradicts its claims of seeking peace:“You cannot bomb civilians in Rojava one day and speak about peace the next.”
Sabri Ok played a central role in the Oslo Process – a series of secret negotiations between Turkey and the PKK in 2008-2010, mediated by a British-linked non-governmental organisation. The process was later exposed when audio recordings of meetings between Turkish officials and PKK representatives were leaked, reportedly by factions within the Turkish state.
Drawing from this experience, Ok warned that unless Turkey approaches the current situation with genuine intent, history could repeat itself:
“In 2013, Öcalan was clear: a legal basis is necessary for any peace process. He even warned that without it, those involved in talks could later face imprisonment. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Ok also urged Kurds and their allies to remain vigilant and proactive. He stressed that Öcalan’s continued isolation is a major obstacle to progress and called for increased mobilisation:
“The campaign for Öcalan’s physical freedom must be intensified. Not just in Europe or Latin America, but in Turkey, Kurdistan and the entire Middle East. The Turkish state must see the determination of the Kurdish people.”
His statements align with ongoing international efforts to draw attention to Öcalan’s conditions. In recent years, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has been widely criticised for failing to take firm action regarding his incommunicado status.
