Hediya Youssef: Solving Kurdish issue is key to Turkey’s democratic future

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has taken historic steps to advance the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” launched by Abdullah Ocalan from his prison on İmralı Island on February 27 of this year, by dissolving itself, holding a symbolic weapons-burning ceremony, and announcing the withdrawal of its fighters from within the borders as a gesture of goodwill and proof of seriousness in this process.

In this context, Hediya Youssef explained in an interview with ANHA Agency that with the withdrawal of the fighters of the Kurdish Liberation Movement from Northern Kurdistan and Turkey, in response to leader Ocalan’s call from İmralı Prison, a new phase in building a democratic society has begun.

Hediya Youssef views the steps taken by the fighters of the Kurdish Liberation Movement, based on Öcalan’s directives, as measures aimed at building and deepening trust between the Kurdish and Turkish sides, and paving the way for Turkey to take its next step.

She indicated that the reason behind the withdrawal of the Kurdish Liberation Movement’s fighters from Northern Kurdistan and Turkey stems from Turkey’s claims that their presence in the region obstructs steps toward the peace process and prevents moving into its second stage, as well as removing any pretexts that might be used to justify the outbreak of new wars.

 Youssef noted that the fighters of the Kurdish Liberation Movement had previously withdrawn from Northern Kurdistan three times during earlier peace processes—the first in 1999, the second in 2013, and the third in 2025.

She stated that the withdrawal of the guerrilla fighters will open the way for the second phase of the peace process, announcing their supportive stance toward this step, and clarifying that the Kurdish people see the presence of the guerrillas as strengthening their belief and boosting their morale.

She added that the Kurdish people view the PKK's moves to dissolve itself and stop the war with great sensitivity, saying: “If these steps open the door to the second phase of a solution, then we support and back this move. Therefore, Turkey must take steps in response to the steps taken by the guerrillas.”

She explained that the committee formed in the Turkish parliament, which convened around 16–17 times, has reached the end of its work and is now in the phase of preparing its reports. She stressed that it must meet with leader Abdullah Ocalan to discuss the matters examined, the steps taken for the peace process, and the steps that will be taken toward a lasting solution.

She pointed out that there are many parties—journalists, diplomats, and Nobel Prize laureates—who want to meet leader Abdullah Ocalan to discuss this stage with him. However, Turkey has not yet taken practical steps to lift his isolation, grant him the right to hope, or enable him to reach the public and the Kurdish community. She said, “These restrictions must be removed.”

Hediya Youssef noted that Turkey’s hesitation toward the peace process and its failure to take the necessary practical steps could mean that it is still in the stage of contemplation and persuasion and has not reached decisions yet—or that it is thinking about how to eliminate this Kurdish movement or still preparing its public. She added, “This issue is no longer under its control; the case of leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdish people has become international.”

She affirmed that the leader stresses that the danger of annihilation still exists even after the danger of denial has been removed. Therefore, he wants to transform the stage initiated by the PKK to build rapprochement, a solution, and trust. She warned that if the process fails, it will undoubtedly pave the way for a war whose outcomes cannot be predicted.

She stated that the steps required from Turkey begin with granting leader Abdullah Ocalan the right to hope, lifting the reasons for his isolation, and releasing the Kurdish political prisoners—estimated to be in the thousands in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan. Additional steps include enabling the parliamentary committee to visit leader Abdullah Ocalan, making constitutional changes in Turkey, and discussing this phase with Kurdish society as well.

Youssef considered the withdrawal of fighters from Turkey’s borders to Southern Kurdistan as proof of the seriousness of the Kurdish liberation movement, and as an indication of the strong bond and close connection between leader Abdullah Ocalan and his fighters, shown through their implementation of his instructions to ensure the success of the process.

She viewed the steps taken by the guerrillas—dissolving the party, symbolically burning weapons, and withdrawing—as difficult steps after decades of war. Turkey, she said, should see them as a valuable opportunity to take real and concrete decisions to begin the second phase.

Hediya Youssef praised all the steps taken by the guerrilla fighters to achieve peace, explaining that they demonstrate the weight of the Kurdish liberation movement, its respect for the values, foundations, and achievements it has built, and its willingness to end the era of war and then play a role in democratizing Turkey.

She stressed the need for Turkey to issue a special law for PKK fighters that would grant them the right to participate in political life freely and easily, allowing them to play their role in democratizing Turkey.

She added that following the historic steps taken by the PKK, Turkish officials such as Bahçeli have become convinced that Turkey must take steps in this stage.

She pointed to the risks Turkey may face if it fails to take decisions or steps to implement the peace process between Kurds and Turkey—risks that could open the door to a war whose impact could spread from inside Turkey to Rojava, Eastern and Northern Kurdistan, and the region as a whole.

Youssef believes that Turkey will also not prefer the option of war if it succeeds in assessing this stage rationally by providing what is required of it, because it knows that war is not in its interest amid the international transformations reshaping the Middle East and directly affecting Turkey.

Youssef affirmed that the only thing that will protect Turkey from the negative effects of the regional transformations happening at this stage is establishing a new phase of peace with the Kurds. She said, “Progress in democracy in Turkey will influence the entire Middle East and the world. If that does not happen, its fate will be similar to that of Iraq, Syria, Iran, and many countries in the Middle East.”

In conclusion, Hediya Youssef reiterated that Turkey’s future freedom and democracy are tied to resolving the Kurdish issue.

ANHA