Open Letter to International Leaders, Policymakers, Political Parties, and Activists on the Peace Process in Turkey

On 12 May 2025, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) published the results of its 12th Congress, announcing dissolution of the PKK and the continuation of the struggle for democracy in Kurdistan through political means. In response to Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for “Peace and Democratic Society” shared on 27 February, the PKK Congress assessed that the PKK had fulfilled its historical mission, bringing the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics.

The decision of the PKK Congress to dissolve the party and end its armed struggle offers a strong basis for lasting peace and a democratic solution in Turkey, which would strengthen democratic politics and conflict resolution efforts throughout the broader region. In a time of intensifying global conflict and war, Mr. Öcalan’s insistence on peace and finding solutions through political, democratic means is both a source of hope and a call to action for all democratic, progressive political and social actors.

The PKK emphasized that implementing these decisions requires that Mr. Öcalan lead and guide the process, that his right to participate in political processes be recognized, and that solid, comprehensive legal guarantees be established. Immediate legal and political steps must be taken to open the way for peace. For this to be possible, the PKK Congress concluded that at this stage, it is essential that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey take responsibility and play a role in this process.

Decisive action is needed for this process to be successful, and European and international institutions and individuals can play a crucial role. At this critical time, we ask for your support for the following demands to facilitate a successful peace process:

1. Turkey must free Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan, the architect of this peace process, is necessary for the resolution of the Kurdish Question. He must be allowed to participate in political processes, to communicate freely with his lawyers, the press political parties and representatives, civil society organizations, and other actors.
2. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey must take concrete political and legal steps towards democratization and the recognition of rights of Kurds in Turkey to promote and protect equality among all peoples of the country.
3. The 2014 European Court of Human Rights decision Öcalan v. Turkey must be implemented, especially regarding changes in Turkish law concerning the right to hope, which holds that life imprisonment without the possibility of release is a violation of the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.
4. All states and EU must remove PKK from their lists of designated terrorist organizations.
5. EU member states and other international actors should encourage Turkey to take immediate action to participate honestly in this process, applying diplomatic pressure and offering mediation efforts to ensure that Turkey upholds democratic principles, ceases military hostilities, and commits to a credible, inclusive, and internationally supported peace process.
6. EU member states and the international community must issue clear public statements supporting the nascent peace and reconciliation process and engage proactively through diplomatic, parliamentary, and all other available channels to encourage Turkey’s participation.

We ask for your support for this call to seize a historical opportunity and make this process a success.

Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)