Besê Hozat: No democratic integration without changing Damascus’s centralist approach

Besê Hozat, co-chair of the KCK, spoke during an exclusive interview with Medya Haber TV about the latest developments in Rojava, the Kurdistan Region and Iran, as well as developments related to the peace process and the democratic society, the Kurdish issue, the Turkish constitution, and the situation of Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The interview was as follows:

Rojava’s integration process has begun, and decisions have been made regarding language, while public discontent has increased and events have taken place in Kobani. How do you assess the policies of the al-Sharaa administration?

It is not possible to speak of democratic integration under a non-democratic and centralist system in Damascus. Genuine democratic integration means that the state recognizes local administration and democratic self-government, and that the state itself changes in the direction of democracy.

What is currently being proposed, in our view, appears closer to handing over the institutions of the Autonomous Administration to Damascus, and this is a mistaken understanding of democratic integration.

For 14 years, Rojava and North and East Syria have operated under an autonomous administration, where multilingualism and education in mother tongues, including Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac, have been implemented.

As for reducing mother-tongue education to three hours per week and making it an optional subject, this, in our view, is the result of an undemocratic mindset. If this mindset in Damascus does not change, genuine democratic integration will not be achieved.

Developments have taken place in Southern Kurdistan, including the unification of the Peshmerga forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan under a joint ministry. How will these developments affect the process?

Unifying the Peshmerga under a joint ministry is a positive and important development. Establishing a democratic government in Southern Kurdistan is also important.

The phase based on the authority of a party or family must come to an end, and a democratic unity government representing different segments of society and political forces must be built.

The federal system in Southern Kurdistan should also be developed toward a democratic system, and the Peshmerga forces should be unified. If this is achieved, it will play an important role in democratizing Iraq and the region.

Iran is facing ongoing crises, including executions and pressure on women. What roadmap do you propose for the Kurds there?

Iran is facing a crisis and war, as well as internal and external pressures, and executions and pressure on society have increased. However, this does not mean that society’s anger or demands have diminished.

The “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising expressed widespread social anger, with various segments of Iranian society participating, while women were at the forefront of the uprising.

This movement brought about a profound social transformation and increased demands for democracy, freedom, equality and justice. In our view, the Iranian authorities have two options: either carry out serious reforms, take democratic steps and respond to society’s demands, or continue on a path that will lead to further crises.

The role of the Kurds is particularly important in this regard. The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) has pursued a policy aimed at democratizing Iran on the basis of local democracy.

The rights and identity of the Kurds must be recognized, and a democratic and federal model should be developed that allows all peoples and faiths in Iran to express and organize themselves freely.

Campaigns against executions should also be expanded and not limited to one organization or entity. All democratic forces advocating freedom and equality, both in the four parts of Kurdistan and outside them, should participate in them.

The execution of 28 people within a single week, according to recent reports, is very serious. Society cannot be suppressed indefinitely through executions. Therefore, a broad and strong struggle against this policy must be pursued, with all democratic forces taking part in it.

Discussions on the peace process and democratic society are continuing, and your movement has taken important steps, including the decision to dissolve the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the framework law. What has been achieved so far, and is the process proceeding as required?

Before answering, I would like to remember all the martyrs of the revolution and freedom, foremost among them comrade Riza Altun, whose anniversary of martyrdom fell on September 25. He made a major contribution to our struggle, and we will continue along the path illuminated by the martyrs with determination and confidence.

Regarding the framework law, our movement and our leader have issued many statements and assessments. The law was expected to serve as a basis for a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, but it did not fully meet this framework, and we criticized it.

The law was incomplete and contained contradictions. It did not adequately include the conditions for the leader Apo’s free life and work, nor did it include the entire leadership of the movement and the comrades involved in the process. It should have paved the way for democratic, political and legal steps.

Over the past two years, we have taken important steps, particularly following our leader’s call on February 27, 2025. The congress’s decision to dissolve the Kurdistan Workers’ Party was historic, as it decided to halt the armed struggle. However, continuing the process requires providing free conditions for the leader Apo so that he can manage it.

Therefore, it cannot be said that the process is proceeding as required. It is moving with difficulty and through unilateral steps, and the state has not yet taken sufficient democratic, political and legal steps. For the process to succeed, the leader Apo must have free conditions for his work and life and must be able to manage the process officially and practically.

What needs to be done for a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue? What changes should be made following the framework law, particularly amid discussions of a new constitution?

Without democratizing Turkey, this process will not succeed. Turkey must become a democratic state and have a democratic and pluralistic constitution that guarantees equality and freedoms.

The current constitution, in our view, is centralist and unitary and denies different identities and components. Therefore, a new constitution must be built that recognizes and guarantees identities and beliefs, foremost among them Kurdish identity.

All social dynamics, including civil society organizations, political parties, democratic movements, women and environmental organizations, should participate in drafting the constitution.

It is not enough to temporarily put the constitution on the agenda. What is required is a serious plan and political will to build a new democratic constitution.

Unless the Kurdish issue is guaranteed within a democratic and pluralistic constitution, there can be no talk of lasting peace, democracy or a solution in Turkey. Democratic, political and legal steps must also be taken, and the issue should not be reduced solely to the question of weapons.

You spoke about the need to provide free conditions for the leader Apo’s work and life, at a time when the possibility of intellectuals and academics visiting İmralı has been raised, along with discussion of his role in coordinating the process. How do you assess his current conditions, what role should he play in the peace process and democratic society, and does this role require a legal and official framework?

There has been no real change in the conditions of the leader Apo. At times the isolation is eased and at other times it is tightened, and weeks or months may pass without a meeting. If the state is serious about advancing the peace process and democratic society, it must change these conditions and enable him to freely perform his role in managing the process.

The leader Apo is the leader and coordinator of the process, and over the past two years he has practically played a role in coordinating, leading and managing it. Therefore, his living and working conditions and his role should be guaranteed within a clear legal and official framework that defines his position and recognizes it publicly, rather than leaving it as a de facto arrangement.

As for the committees formed by the state, they are affiliated with the state. What is required is official recognition of the role played by the leader Apo in managing the process, commensurate with the significant effort he has made, and the creation of a political, democratic and legal foundation to ensure its continuation.

Some intellectuals and politicians have launched a petition with 1,001 signatures in support of the process. How do you view it?

It is an important and meaningful initiative, and it should be expanded. There are many forces and movements, including women, youth, workers, farmers, environmental movements and democratic forces, each struggling in its own field.

If these struggles come together on a common ground and turn into a unified struggle, they will create a strong democratic movement in Turkey and provide important support for the peace process and democratic society.

However, the initiative should not remain limited to the intellectuals’ campaign or to 1,001 signatures. It should be expanded to include different segments of society.

Women will hold a conference on their role in the peace process and democratic society and on building a line of struggle against male domination. What would you say to women?

Women have begun a struggle under the slogan “Women Together,” and they are expected to develop a joint struggle plan at the end of October and beginning of November.

If the struggles of women, workers, environmental movements, intellectuals and all democratic forces come together on common ground based on democracy, freedom, equality and justice, a strong democratic movement will emerge and put pressure on the state to take democratic steps.

Women are a fundamental element and a leading and decisive force in the peace process and democratic society. The process can advance through their strong participation and leadership.

Environmental movements and struggles against the destruction of nature, drugs and violence against women are also of great importance, and bringing these struggles together within a common framework can create a broad democratic force.

Sh-S

ANHA