Çiğdem Doğu: PKK Congress marks new beginning rooted in values

As part of the continued coverage of the 12th Congress of the PKK, which was held between May 5 and 7, Firat News Agency today published the speech delivered by Çiğdem Doğu during the congress.

At the beginning of her speech, Çiğdem Doğu saluted Leader Abdullah Ocalan and remembered the martyrs with deep gratitude and respect. She affirmed that the values established through the struggle will remain the foundation for the next phase, and that the party's dissolution does not mean abandoning these principles but rather represents reconstruction and renewal in line with a modern vision.

Doğu pointed out that the leader’s call on February 27 marked a significant turning point in the party’s political thought. He emphasized the need to transform into modern associations that restructure themselves without being forcefully suppressed. She denied that the dissolution was due to defeat or weakness, stressing instead that it was a conscious and independent decision made after 52 years of struggle, and that the movement is entering an unprecedented historical phase in the Middle East.

“Transformation through independent will”

She explained that the congress represents the first case of internal, voluntary transformation without external coercion, an exceptional step in the context of Middle Eastern history. She noted that despite dismantling its organizational structure, the party still represents a driving force in the region, and the impact of these decisions will extend regionally across various political and social fronts.

“The PKK… Identity and values”

Doğu affirmed that the party was like a mother to all its male and female fighters, laying the foundations of ethics and freedom and helping build a struggle-based identity rooted in revolutionary and egalitarian values, especially in the realm of women’s rights, which were central to the leader’s philosophy.

She stressed that the party’s decision marks the spark of a new beginning in the Middle East and will serve as a foundation for rebuilding political and social concepts in line with current transformations.

Deepening roots and sustaining values Çiğdem Doğu emphasized that the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) does not mean abandoning its legacy of struggle, but rather presents an opportunity to reinforce the values that have emerged through decades of resistance and sacrifice. She explained that the party was not merely an organizational entity, but a movement deeply rooted in political and social realities. The new phase, she said, will further deepen these roots through reconstruction and by taking stronger, more determined steps toward the future.

She pointed out that this stage carries a significant responsibility for the fighters and strugglers, who must preserve the core values established over 52 years of struggle. She noted that some aspects of this phase remain unclear, especially in light of potential attacks and threats from hostile parties, which necessitates a deep awareness of how to overcome these challenges.

In her remarks, she confirmed that the leader presented seven key points to outline the upcoming phase, proposals that will be discussed and expanded upon in greater depth to ensure a proper understanding of this transformation. She highlighted that the party’s vision of history and life from the perspective of democratic society and women is both unique and exceptional, and will serve as a fundamental pillar in the next stage.

Çiğdem Doğu, a member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Women’s Community (KJK), concluded by stressing that this historic phase is not merely an organizational change, but a new beginning that will lay the foundation for a different political and social future, based on the party’s solid values and aimed at further developing and deepening them.

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